NATURE SCHOOL

FAVORITE GEAR, HIKE, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
How to Use a Pocket Microscope
- April 14, 2023
What do dead bugs, pine needles, worms, and sand have in common? Maybe you should add soil, bark, and pond water to that list. And that’s only the beginning. All these things, and more, may find their way into your kids’ hands and under the lens of a pocket microscope while on a nature walk. Today, Laura Stroup, founder of Firefly Nature School and mom to three wildlings, shows you how to get a close-up look at nature through the lens of a pocket microscope.

What is a pocket microscope?

Pocket microscopes are so named because they easily fit inside the pocket of your clothing or backpack. Their small size and light weight make them a good choice to take on a nature walk or hike. They are also sturdy and relatively simple to operate.

Once you learn how to use them, you can teach your kids to do the same. Soon, you’ll wonder what everything looks like magnified under the microscope.

Best pocket microscopes for kids

There are many pocket microscope brands on the market. Prices range from $10-$50. And maybe the best part of small microscopes is the small price tag. Many can be purchased for under $20. They make great stocking stuffers or birthday gifts for your kids or their friends. You can even purchase small cases for your microscope for extra protection and battery storage when transporting them. If your kids jump, climb, and tumble on a nature walk like mine do, then the storage case might be worth the extra cost.

When choosing a pocket microscope, there are many features you can consider, including, size, magnification ability, camera function, light, and durability. Here are a few choices for a great pocket microscope for kids:
The one we use is the Carson Microbrite Plus. As is the case with many other brands, it has a light, zoom, focus ring, eyepiece, and lens. This particular microscope can zoom in anywhere from 60 to 120 times magnification.

Starting with a pocket microscope

Many people feel intimidated when they first use a microscope, but starting with a pocket microscope can make the process seem less daunting, especially when you’re going to teach your kids how to use it, too.

Eventually, when you move on to a larger microscope down the road, you will already have microscope basics under your belt. And teaching your kids what you’ve learned will provide them with an invaluable skill they can use throughout their education.

How to use a pocket microscope

To begin, you will want to keep the microscope on a flat surface. Then, find something around you worth a close-up look. A piece of fabric, napkin, hair, even your phone screen will work. And placing a light-colored paper or plate under the object will make it easier to view with your microscope.

Turn on your microscope’s light, and place the scope on the object so the lens is over the top of what you want to see. Make sure the zoom adjustment is on its lowest power. For example, if the zoom adjustment goes from 60x to 120x, you’ll want it set to 60x.

Now it’s time to take a peek. Put your dominant eye up to the eyepiece on top of the microscope and look through while closing your other eye. Likely, the image will be blurry. While looking through the eyepiece and holding the microscope still, slowly turn the focus ring until the object comes clearly into view.

Once you see it, wow! It only gets better by zooming in closer. Move the zoom to the highest power, and again, use the focus ring to see the image clearly, with even more detail this time.

What can you do with a pocket microscope?

Practice with different items around the house until you feel confident passing your newfound skills to your kids, with the eventual goal of taking your microscope outside with you and using it for all the things you find on your nature walks!

When you’ve had a lot of experience manipulating the zoom adjustment and focus ring, you can even use the pocket microscope up against a tree or flower, as long as you’re able to hold it steady and the object you’re looking at doesn’t move around.

Looking at nature finds

Some of our favorite nature treasures to view with a microscope are:
- sand
- soil
- butterfly wings
- insect legs
- bark
- lichens
- moss
- flower petals
- seeds
- broad leaves
- needle leaves
- algae
- droplets of pond water
Benefits of using a pocket microscope in nature

Using a microscope in nature really helps you to slow down and appreciate the intricacies and details of things you see every single day. You’ll literally stop to smell and see the roses (and all the other flowers along the trail as well).

It also gives your kids invaluable and concrete STEM skills. But more than that, it nurtures their creativity, curiosity, and imagination. It instills a sense of wonder.

The plethora of features to see on even the tiniest bit of nature is surprising. Hairs and pores dot leaves and insect legs, scales cover butterfly wings, jagged edges surround bits of sand, and minute creatures scurry in soil and pond water.

Add a pocket microscope to your next outdoor adventure

You can hone your observation skills by doing simple nature journaling activities while using your microscope. Draw and label items that you see while out in nature. Then, look at the same items again, but under the microscope. Draw another illustration of what the object looks like close-up. What details did you notice after using the microscope that you did not see originally?

Pocket microscopes are fun tools to use when you go hiking on a trail or around your neighborhood. Usually, my backpack ends up holding ALL the things on a hike – water bottles, rocks, sticks, bones, you name it.

Since these microscopes aren’t heavy or awkward, kids don’t mind carrying them and rather enjoy having them close by to grab when the notion strikes.

Toting a microscope in their pocket and having easy access to it on a hike just makes sense. You’ll probably even find yourself asking your kids if you can use it, too.

Have you ever used a pocket microscope?

About the author

Laura is an ecology writer and the founder of Firefly Nature School, a nature study curriculum designed for homeschooling families, co-ops, and classrooms. Laura has a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University with an emphasis in natural resource education. A former wildlife conservation educator and upper school science teacher, she now directs School of the Wild, a local nature school serving her community. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her family, hiking, running, writing, reading, and cooking. Laura lives with her husband and their three children in the beautiful Ozarks countryside.

Find more from Laura in the following locations:
Website: Firefly Nature School
Instagram: @fireflynatureschool
Facebook: Firefly Nature School
RWMC posts: Laura
BEACH, CRAFTS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Seashell Crafts for Kids
- February 24, 2023
Seashells are nature’s treasures, and they’re so much fun to use in crafts and projects. Today, Lea Reynolds, Florida mom of two, is here sharing three fun and easy seashell crafts for kids. Not only will hunting for seashells get your kids outside and on the beach for hours, but the colorful shells will help inspire their creativity and make beautiful natural additions to your home decor and gifts.

Seashell crafts for kids

Florida is known for its warm and sunny weather, but did you know that it also experiences mild winters? While the temperatures may not reach the freezing point, the cooler weather and shorter days provide a perfect opportunity to enjoy making crafts. One of our favorite things to do is combine our love of the beach, with crafting.

Crafting with seashells is an activity that not only gets us outside, but lets us be creative, as well. Here in Florida, shells are abundant on the beaches, so there’s no shortage of supplies. Today, I’m going to walk you through my best tips for finding great seashells and guide you through the process of making simple and fun seashell crafts with your kids.

Shelling with kids

First things first, you need to set off and find as many seashells as you can! Whether you have easy access to a beach all the time, or you’re visiting the beach on vacation, shelling is an engaging experience for parents and kids of all ages. It’s a free and fun way to spend a few hours outside! My kids love finding different shapes, sizes and colors of seashells. When the water is too cold to swim in, and the sky is cloudy, you can always spend your time at the beach seashell hunting! Grab a bucket or a sustainable ocean-friendly bag, your trusty bait net, and let’s hunt!

Tips for finding and collecting seashells

Finding seashells is often a matter of being on the beach at the right time. The best time, in general, is about an hour before or after low tide. High tide will bring those beautiful shells inland. As the tide recedes, you’ll be able to see the treasures the tide left behind. And if the tides are low early in the morning, this is even better! This is great for families, as little kids are often up early, and it’s a great excuse to get out of the house right away! We like to have breakfast on the beach in the morning, before the crowds arrive and we have the place to ourselves.

Shelling is especially good after strong winds or storms. Low spring tides during full moon or new moon periods can also bring in great shells. Here in Florida, any strong tides or Gulf storms can also bring plentiful shells to the Gulf area beaches. Most of the time, the best sea shells are found in or below the wrack line (where the debris can be found from the high tide the night before). If you venture up too high, you may find older sun-bleached shells (which can be beautiful). But, the bright colorful newer shells that just washed up the night before will be down closer to the waterline.

Know the regulations

Be sure to check local laws and regulations to know the rules in your area regarding sea shell collecting. Some beaches allow shelling, and some don’t. If your child finds a shell that still has an animal living inside — gastropod, bivalve, or otherwise — tell them to leave it alone. In many places, including Florida, it is illegal to take a live creature from its natural habitat. If keeping empty shells is allowed, be sure to check to make sure they’re empty. Also, never take live sand dollars from the beach.

Cleaning and storing seashells

Once your child has found enough shells for your projects and crafts, you’ll want to properly clean them to bring out their full natural beauty. First, soak the seashells in plain warm water to remove any dirt, debris, and smell. Change out the water daily for a few hours or up to a week to fully clean your shells. You can use an old toothbrush to remove grit from the ridges and cracks if necessary.

We do not recommend using bleach. Bleach will ruin the color and vibrancy of your shell, and the shells will have a bleach/chlorine smell.

After your shells have soaked, you’ll need to thoroughly dry them. If your shells have particularly rough edges, you can smooth them down with sandpaper. And if you really want to bring out the color and brilliance of your shells, rub a small amount of mineral oil on a paper towel and buff the shells until they shine. This will ensure your shells look beautiful in any setting and last a lifetime.

Seashell wind chimes
Wind chimes made from shells are not only beautiful to look at, but they are an excellent way to bring a touch of nature into your home. Wind chimes are an easy seashell craft idea that can be made with a variety of materials, including driftwood, seashells, sea glass, bells, beads, etc..

Creating a wind chime made from materials you find at the beach is a fun and simple project that can be completed in a few hours. This is a great craft to make with kids that love sound and movement to commemorate your beach days. The resulting wind chime will be a beautiful and unique decoration that you can enjoy for years to come.

This section will guide you through the process of creating your own unique wind chime from natural materials. This is the perfect seashell craft for older kids.

Shell windchime materials:

Driftwood

Seashells

String (we used natural sisal, as it gives it a beachier look)

Hot glue gun

Scissors

Ruler or measuring tape

Drill (if you want to drill holes in your shells)

Optional: colorful beads, sea glass, shark’s teeth, etc.

Shell windchime instructions:

Collect driftwood and seashells of various sizes and shapes.

Cut strings to varying lengths, depending on the size and shape of the driftwood and seashells. We alternated the length of our strings.

Choose your seashells. You can get as creative as you want. We decided we wanted it to look cohesive, so we chose multiple shells that matched and alternated them.

Sand your driftwood (optional) for a beachier look. If you don’t have a sander, you can use a knife to shave the top layer of wood off.

Drill small holes into each end of the driftwood.

Thread string through holes and tie a knot at each end. You can create this piece as long or as short as you want. This will be the part that you hang.

Now to decorating! We chose to drill a small hole into each shell and thread the string through. The easiest way to do this is to apply hot glue to the back of each seashell and glue it to the string. You can leave as much space between each shell as you would like.

Repeat steps 6 and 7 with the remaining seashells and strings, spacing them evenly along the driftwood.

Use hot glue to secure the knots and any loose strings.

Hang the wind chime in a location where it will receive gentle breezes, such as a porch or tree branch.

Tips for making wind chimes with kids:

Experiment with different lengths and combinations of string and shells to create a unique and personalized wind chime.

If you have trouble finding driftwood, you can use other types of wood, such as bamboo or branches.

To make your wind chime extra special, you can paint or decorate the driftwood or shells before assembling.
Seashell identification cards

Seashells are fascinating natural wonders that have captivated people for centuries. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and each one has a unique story to tell. To help children and students learn about these fascinating creations, educational cards made about seashells can be a valuable tool. This section of the article will guide you through the process of creating your own set of seashell identification cards.

Seashell educational cards are a great way to help children and students learn about these fascinating creatures and the important role they play in our ecosystem. The process of creating the cards is simple, yet educational and fun, and the end result is a valuable tool for learning and discovery. So go ahead and make your own set of seashell identification cards today!

Seashell identification card materials:

Various seashell specimens

Heavy cardstock or cardboard (we used an old shoe box)

Ruler or measuring tape

Scissors

Markers or colored pencils

Hot glue gun

Seashell identification card instructions:

Collect a variety of seashell specimens. Make sure to choose shells that are different in size, shape, and color.

Cut heavy cardstock or paper into 3 x 5-inch rectangles (this is the perfect size for little hands to hold). You can make as many cards as you have shells.

Write the name of the seashell on the front of the card, along with any other information you wish to include, such as the location where it was found, its scientific name, or interesting facts about the species.

On the back of the card, write more in-depth information about the seashell, including its habitat, diet, and behavior.

Hot glue your seashell to the cardstock.

Organize them in a binder or box for easy access.

Tips for creating shell identification cards:

Use a local field guide for shells, a local shelling website, or a shelling app to identify the shells you find. Let the kids help with this!

You can also include images or diagrams of the seashell’s anatomy or life cycle to enhance the educational value of the cards. You can print these off the internet or draw them yourself.

To make the cards more durable, you can laminate them or cover them with clear contact paper.

Consider adding quizzes or games to the cards to encourage students to actively engage with the information and retain it better. You could even turn this into a memory-matching game.

Seashell picture frames
Decorating picture frames with seashells is a fun and easy way to add a touch of the beach to your home decor. This project is perfect for anyone looking to add a personal touch to their frames and create a unique piece of home decor. They make the perfect gift too!

Adding seashells to picture frames is a simple and creative project that can add a touch of the beach to any room in your home. Whether you use a single frame or multiple frames, this project is a great way to display your favorite memories while bringing the beauty of the ocean into your home. We created these as Christmas gifts for families this past holiday, and our families loved them. Nothing feels more personable than a personalized, DIY gift.

Materials for seashell picture frames:

Picture frame(s)

Seashells (in a variety of sizes and shapes)

Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Scissors or wire cutters

Optional: decorative ribbon, beads, or other embellishments

Shell photo frame instructions:

Choose your frame. Select a picture frame that fits the style of your home decor and the size of the photo you want to display. You can use a single frame or multiple frames for a more dramatic display.

Gather your seashells. Collect a variety of seashells from your local beach or craft store. You can choose shells that are similar in size and color to create a cohesive look, or a random assortment of different colors, styles, and sizes to create an eclectic look.

Prepare the frame. Remove the glass, picture, and backing from the frame. Clean the frame thoroughly to remove any dirt or dust. If desired, wrap the frame with decorative ribbon or paint it with acrylic paints to match the seashells you have chosen.

Attach the seashells. Begin by hot gluing the largest shells first, starting at one corner and working your way around the frame. Make sure to apply enough hot glue to securely hold each shell in place.

Embellish. Fill in the gaps as you add more shells, fill in any gaps with small shells or embellishments of your choice. You can also mix and match different sizes and shapes of shells for a more interesting and unique design. We added some awesome shark teeth, sea glass, and coral to ours.

Finishing touches. When all the gaps are filled and you are happy with the overall look of your frame, it’s time to add any final embellishments, such as decorative ribbon or beads.

Reassemble the frame. Replace the glass, picture, and backing into the frame, making sure to secure it tightly in place.

And that’s it! Your seashell-decorated picture frame is now ready to display. These make great gifts for grandparents and teachers. You can also use this technique to decorate other items, such as mirrors or picture frames made from other materials, such as wood or metal. The possibilities are endless!

Mermaid crown and seashell necklace
A seashell crown or seashell necklace is a beautiful and unique accessory that can be worn on special occasions or simply as a fun, summery addition to an outfit. Creating a crown or neclace using seashells is a simple craft and a creative project that can be completed in just a few hours and with a few basic materials.

Shell crown and shell necklace materials:

Seashells

Hot glue gun

Scissors

String, floral wire, pipe cleaners, or headband

Shell crown/shell necklace instructions:

Gather your seashells. Collect a variety of seashells from your local beach or craft store. Make sure to choose shells that are similar in size and color to create a cohesive look.

Prepare your base. If using a headband, wrap it with ribbon to match your seashells and hot glue it in place. If using a wire wreath form, bend the wire into a circular shape to fit your head comfortably and cut off any excess wire.

Attach the seashells. Begin by hot gluing the largest shells first, starting at the front and working your way around to the back. Make sure to apply enough hot glue to securely hold each shell in place.

Fill in the gaps. As you add more shells, fill in any gaps with smaller shells or embellishments of your choice. You can also mix and match different sizes and shapes of shells for a more interesting and unique design.

Finishing touches. When all the gaps are filled, and you are happy with the overall look of your crown, it’s time to add any final embellishments such as decorative ribbons or beads.

And that’s it! Your seashell crown is now ready to wear. You can personalize it further by adding feathers, beads, or even artificial flowers to match your outfit or occasion. Making a seashell crown is a fun and creative project that can be done by anyone, regardless of skill level. Seashell necklaces or a crown are a great way to bring a touch of the beach to any outfit, making you feel like a true mermaid or Aquaboy!

Seashell crafts for kids

There are countless crafts you can make with your kids using seashells. You can paint them, make personalized greeting cards with them, glue them to cups and make pencil holders or plant pots, even make one-of-a-kind jewelry! They provide hours of engagement, creativity, and hands-on learning for kids! We hope this post has inspired you to get out to a beach near you to look for shells and crate some beautiful art. Happy seashell crafting!
Have you ever made any crafts with seashells?

About the author

Lea is a mom of two adventurous kids and wife to her surfer husband Brandon. She is an Army veteran, Registered Nurse, photographer, and small business owner. Lea has lived in Hawaii, New Mexico, and now resides in Florida, where she and her family are enjoying endless ocean adventures. She has traveled to Costa Rica, South Korea, and many states across the US. Lea and her family love to surf, fish, hike, skate, and travel to new places. She is passionate about teaching her kids about nature and protecting our planet.

You can find Lea online in the following locations:
Instagram: @oceanmamalea
Website: Wild Stoke Fam
RWMC posts: Lea Reynolds
ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, GOOD FOR NATURE, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SPRING, SUMMER
Raising Monarch Butterflies with Children
- June 27, 2022
Monarch butterflies, with their beautiful vivid orange wings with wide black borders are considered by some to be the “king of butterflies” (hence the name). Monarch butterflies can be found across North America, but are facing issues due to their roosting sites being threatened by development and loss of the trees that create the unique conditions required by these butterflies. The good news is that you can help! Today, Cape Cod mom of two, Lissy Perna is here to show you just how easy (and important) it is to help the monarch butterflies. She’ll show you how to raise them from caterpillars, as well as give you facts about the butterflies and other suggestions for how to help them thrive. With the help of this detailed guide, you’ll be saving the monarchs in no time!

Raising monarch butterflies with children

Have you ever seen photos of children holding bright orange monarch butterflies or families enjoying the process of raising and releasing these delicate animals? Well, I’m here to tell you that you can raise monarch butterflies with your children too! And it’s a great way for the whole family to get involved in nature, conservation, and science. It’s a simple, inexpensive, and beneficial process that’s important to the sustainability of the monarch species. Here are your step-by-step instructions and family-friendly guide for raising monarch butterflies with kids.

Monarch butterfly facts for kids
- The monarch butterfly’s proper name is Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758)
- The upper side of a male monarch is bright orange with wide black borders and black veins. The upper side of a female monarch is orange-brown with wide black borders and blurred black veins. Both sexes have white spots on the borders and apex.
- Monarchs can be found from southern Canada south through the United States, Central America, and most of South America. Monarchs are also present in Hawaii, Australia, and the Pacific Islands.
- Monarchs live mainly in open habitats including fields, meadows, marshes, and along roadsides.
- Monarchs feed on nectar from milkweeds. Milkweed contains poisons that are distasteful or toxic to birds and other predators. After tasting a monarch, a predator learns to associate the bright warning colors of the adult or caterpillar with an unpleasant meal, and avoid eating monarchs in the future.
- Monarchs make a 3,000-mile journey each year, migrating between Canada and Mexico. These monarchs return each winter to roosts in the hills of Michoacan, Mexico, where they gather by the millions.
*Source

Lifecycle of a monarch butterfly

Before you raise monarch butterflies, encourage your child to learn about the monarch butterfly life cycle.

The life cycle of the monarch butterfly has four stages and four generations. The stages are (1) egg, (2) larvae, (3) pupa, and (4) adult butterfly. “Four generations” means four butterflies passing through these four stages within a year.

The previous generation’s adult butterfly lays eggs on the milkweed, when stage one of the first generation starts. Within 4 days, the eggs hatch to form a caterpillar or larva, the second stage. At this stage, the larvae eat the milkweed on which it lives.

Within two weeks, it attains full growth and attaches to someplace like a leaf or stem by discharging silk, and undergoes the process of metamorphosis to transform into a pupa or chrysalis. Over the next 10 days, the continuous process of metamorphosis transforms the old body parts of the pupa into the beautiful parts of the future adult butterfly. The adult butterfly will emerge and fly away in search of food and a mate.

First-generation monarch butterflies live a short life that ranges from two to six weeks. Within this period, it will lay eggs for the second generation. The second generation flies roughly one month after the migrating monarchs arrive and reproduce which would be anytime from May through July. It lays eggs for the third generation in July or August.

The fourth-generation process is almost the same except for one point. The fourth-generation eggs are laid in the month of September or October, but they live more than eight to nine months. This fourth-generation butterfly also has a specialty; it migrates to the warmer regions of California or Mexico.

*Source – http://www.saveourmonarchs.org

The importance of the monarch butterfly

Monarch butterflies are pollinators. Pollinators like monarchs play a vital role in the natural ecosystem and our food system. As pollinators, the monarch butterfly migration across the continent provides an invaluable service, essential for many ecosystems to thrive. It is thanks to pollinators, such as butterflies, bees, and other insects, that we have many of the flowers and dietary staples that we enjoy.

But monarch butterflies and their migration are now threatened by temperature changes, drought, deforestation, development, and other impacts. The loss of milkweed plants (due to eradication, urbanization and increased use of herbicides), loss of winter habitat, and climate change are all pushing monarchs to the brink. The monarch butterfly is now a candidate to be listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Does it help the species to raise monarch butterflies in captivity?

In nature, monarchs are prey to various predators, and only ten percent of monarch eggs in the wild make it to the butterfly stage. Ants, wasps, birds, spiders, and other insects have easy access to the little eggs and consume them regularly. Even without the threat of predators, bacterial and viral diseases are also ever-present and cause widespread damage. In addition, tachinid flies prey on the soft chrysalis’ that house the transforming monarchs. Raising monarch butterflies with your children in captivity can help protect these eggs and ensure they are safely brought into adulthood and help the recovery of the monarch butterfly population. It’s one little thing we can do with our children to help make a difference.

Reasons to raise monarchs with children

Many children learn best from hands-on experiences, and the process of raising a beautiful butterfly (from egg to caterpillar to butterfly) is a perfect example of that type of education. It’s a great backyard project for kids that’s not expensive, but has huge benefits for both the animal and the child.

One of my favorite quotes by an unknown author exemplifies this, “Because little nature lovers grow into big nature lovers.” Children are the future, and their attention to wildlife protection is crucial. Introducing them to this type of experience makes them more likely to care for wildlife once they are adults. Your children can play a big part during the monarch-raising process, and the lessons learned will be invaluable. Raising butterflies from eggs and the entire process will be a delight (and valuable learning experience) for your young nature enthusiast.

What you need to get started raising monarchs with children

You don’t need too much when it comes to raising monarchs, and it’s not a huge investment (but there is a huge payout and benefit). Here are the supplies you should gather:
- Butterfly enclosure
- Cotton swabs
- Paper towels
- Spray bottle with clean water
- Small clean, shallow plastic container with the top (sandwich-sized)
- Magnifying glass (optional)
- An abundance of milkweed plants, not treated by any chemicals
Finding milkweed for monarchs

The first step in raising monarch butterflies with children is to find live monarch butterfly eggs and a food source for your caterpillars. Luckily, monarch butterflies will always lay these eggs on the leaves of milkweed plants (usually on the underside of the leaves), which is also their main food source. With a keen eye, you can easily spot these tiny eggs. The globular whitish-yellow eggs are only .9 to 1.2 millimeters long.

How to identify milkweed plants to search for monarch eggs

The presence of milkweed is extremely important to the monarch. Milkweed leaves are the only food that monarch caterpillars eat. Adult butterflies also lay their eggs on the back of milkweed leaves.

There are multiple milkweed species, and this plant grows in many climates and habitats. You can often find milkweed growing alongside fences, on the sides of roads, or in ravines. Key characteristics of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) are:
- flower color ranges from pink to white, highly fragrant
- milky sap when leaves/stem broken
- fine hairs on the underside of leaves—soft and velvety!
- mature leaves are typically quite broad
Milkweed fruits or pods are easy to identify although their size and shape can vary. Once they are mature, the pods split longitudinal and release the seeds within. The seeds are dispersed by wind so they are light and fluffy.
Types of milkweed plants
- Common milkweed
- Butterflyweed
- Swamp milkweed
- Antelope-horns milkweed
- Purple milkweed
- Showy milkweed
- California milkweed
- White milkweed
- Whorled milkweed
- Mexican whorled milkweed
- Desert milkweed
- Green milkweed
These are just some of the milkweed plants native to North America. If you want to plant milkweed at your home, please be sure you choose a native species, as they are the healthiest for your monarchs and the local environment.

Collecting monarch eggs from milkweed

Once you locate an egg on the underside of milkweed leaves, gently remove the leaf and place it in a clean container, egg side up, and secure the lid. Please do not touch the egg; even a gentle touch may harm it. We like to line these containers with damp paper towels to keep the environment moist.

Depending on your comfort level, you may want to start with only a few eggs. Your first time raising monarch butterflies will teach you so much about the entire experience and what works (and doesn’t). Once you are familiar with the process, you will know if you can take on more tiny caterpillars in the future.

When harvesting anything in nature, always make sure you have permission to remove the leaves from these plants. A friend’s garden (or your own garden) would be the best place, followed by wild areas where responsible foraging is permitted. If you don’t know where to find milkweed, but want to help the caterpillars, you can plant and grow it yourself. Make sure that the plants you harvest are from areas with no chemical spraying, including pesticides or other harmful applications.

Also, before taking an egg or young caterpillar home, it’s important to have a source nearby that you can use to feed your growing caterpillar. Once your small caterpillar hatches from its egg, it will need fresh milkweed for its main food source. For your convenience and their health, make sure you have a nearby milkweed patch to serve as your source of fresh food.

Caring for your monarch eggs

Monarch caterpillar eggs hatch three to eight days after being laid. So, you’ll want to keep a close eye on the eggs in your care. First, you will want to keep your closed container in a safe place. We keep ours on the window sill in our bathroom- away from curious dogs and cats. Natural light is best, but not in direct sunlight. Next, check on your eggs daily to give them fresh air and clean off any mold forming. Then, lightly mist the leaves with clean water from your spray bottle to moisten the environment.

A monarch egg hatched; what do I do now?

Success! The first egg has hatched! Now, what do you do?

Well, not much for the first few days. You will see an extremely tiny (less than one-tenth of an inch!) yellow caterpillar chewing on its eggshell. Once the caterpillar has eaten its shell, it will start to chew on the surrounding milkweed for food. Monarchs stay in this caterpillar stage for ten to fourteen days, growing every day. They move through stages called instars; there will be five in total!

This stage is a great time to break out that magnifying glass for your children to better view these miniature, hungry caterpillars. But don’t worry, they won’t stay tiny for very long! They grow at an incredibly rapid pace. Very hungry caterpillar, indeed!

Move small caterpillars to a butterfly enclosure

When your monarch caterpillars are small, this stage is ideal for moving your container into the mesh butterfly enclosure. An enclosure will keep your caterpillars safe from predators and allow you and your young children to observe them easily. You can take off the lid once you have the container inside the mesh enclosure. Remember to keep these enclosures somewhere safe; you don’t want them to knock over.

The size of your enclosure should determine the number of caterpillars you can safely house. Because we wanted something large and very sturdy to last us years, my father built us a wooden butterfly house out of scrap wood and an old screen, loosely based on styles we found online. If you would like a wooden house, here are a few options. Although, the inexpensive mesh ones work perfectly fine as well. You might want to purchase or construct a more permanent butterfly house, because raising monarch butterflies with your children is so fun!

Here is a wooden enclosure on Etsy that is very similar to mine. This is an aluminum mesh butterfly enclosure I found on Amazon. A pop-up mesh cage also works just fine.

How to clean your monarch caterpillar container

As your caterpillar grows, it will be consuming more and more milkweed. And what goes in, as we all know…must come out. You’ll want to keep your enclosure clean, so here’s how to take care of the waste.

First, you will need to remove the poop or frass that accumulates on the leaves and the bottom of your container. The best way to do this is with a cotton swab. You can gently wipe it away from the milkweed leaves to give your caterpillar a clean living environment. Then, as they grow even larger, you will need to throw out the damp paper towel lining your container and replace them at least once a day. The frass can range in color from dark green to dark brown and will vary in size depending on the size of your caterpillars.

Instar stages of your monarch caterpillars

As mentioned previously, monarch caterpillars move through five stages before fully growing. These stages are called instars. First, the caterpillar grows (from eating the healthy milkweed you are providing) and becomes too big for its skin. After that, they shed their black skin through a molting process, and sometimes, they even consume their shed skin after the molting is complete. This molting process is fascinating; the caterpillar will almost vibrate and shake to remove its skin. If you happen to witness this stage, feel honored! It’s a quick process but is so crucial in their growth.

During the instar stages, the caterpillars will be eating quite a bit of milkweed. Make sure to provide enough milkweed leaves to keep them satiated. They will eat all of the leaves, leaving only the stems behind. As the caterpillars grow bigger, see if you can hear them munching. It’s louder than you’d expect! Isn’t that fascinating!

Sizes of monarch caterpillars at each stage
- First instar: 2-6mm
- Second instar: 6-9mm
- Third instar: 10-14mm
- Fourth instar: 13-25mm
- Fifth (and final!) instar: 25-45mm
It takes ten to fourteen days to complete these five instar stages.

Preparing for pupa

The next stage in our monarch caterpillars’ life is their pupa stage. This stage is when the caterpillar transforms from larvae to the monarch butterfly. The length of this stage is anywhere from ten to fourteen days.

Once your tiny caterpillars reach full size, their eating will slow down a bit and they’ll get ready for metamorphosis. When your monarch caterpillars are ready to form their chrysalis, they will climb to the top of the butterfly enclosure.

First, they will create a silk patch from their tail end to the top of the enclosure’s roof. Then, they will hang upside down in a “J” shape. Keep an eye on them once they do this, as it means they will form the chrysalis within twenty-four hours! I have noticed that right before they move into the pupa stage and are in “J” formation, their antennas will go limp, and their bodies will straighten out a bit. At this point, it will be only minutes until the transformation starts.

Larvae to pupa, the amazing transformation

Watching a larva pupate is fascinating and bizarre – it’s a true miracle in the natural world and to witness one is absolutely incredible! It goes rather quickly (or at least faster than you might expect), so timing is critical. You have to be paying very close attention to know it’s coming and be ready!

First, the top layer of skin splits, and the green chrysalis becomes visible. The monarch caterpillar then expands and contracts until the outer layer of skin falls off, and the chrysalis is fully formed. Notice the tiny gold dots along the edge of the chrysalis. Once this happens, try not to touch the chrysalis and just let it be.

You do not have to do anything during this period except keep the chrysalis out of reach of predators. After eight to ten days, the butterfly will be ready to emerge. You will be able to tell that it is nearly time to come out because you can see the monarch’s wings through the exterior shell of the chrysalis.

Monarch emerging from the chrysalis

When the butterfly is ready, it will emerge from the chrysalis. It will hang upside down for a few hours after coming out, its tiny sticky feet clinging to the broken shell of its chrysalis. If you happen to see a butterfly fall to the floor of the enclosure, gently scoop it up and allow it to re-attach to the chrysalis or the roof of the pen.

While hanging upside down, the butterfly will pump its wings, allowing the fluid from its body to flow to the wings so they may fully expand. You may also notice the proboscis, or tongue-like appendage, rolling and unrolling from their mouth.

The wings need this time to dry to fly safely and effectively; this process usually takes three to four hours. Once the monarch starts fluttering around your enclosure, and it has been at least three to four hours, you can set it free.

Resources to help you on your monarch-raising journey

When we first started raising monarchs, we used a local Facebook group as a resource. I would ask the group any questions I had about locating milkweed, the setup of my butterfly enclosure, or the behavior of the monarch caterpillars. You may have a group local to your area, but if not, there is a national one called The Beautiful Monarch.

Of course, there are always books to reference; here are some of my favorite resources that you can purchase online or check out from your local public library:
How else can you help monarch butterflies?

Raising monarch butterflies with your children is a great way to help the monarch population recover, but there are other ways you can help, too!
- Plant a pollinator garden in your own backyard. Include native plants in your area that are either host plants such as milkweed, or nectar plants for the butterflies to feed on, such as nasturtiums, zinnias, or cosmos. Here’s a great tutorial on how to plant a butterfly garden with your kids.
- Share the word! Now that you are an expert on these beautiful creatures, share that information with your friends and family. Then, maybe they will start raising monarchs with their children!
- Please donate to the non-profit Save Our Monarchs, which is committed to saving monarch butterflies and serves as a great resource for any monarch enthusiast. Find out how at http://www.saveourmonarchs.org.
- Fight climate change. The monarch’s innate urge to migrate is based on temperature changes that come with the seasons. Unfortunately, climate change has affected these temperatures, and the continued shift threatens their population.
Have you ever raised monarch butterflies with kids?

About the author

Lissy lives near the ocean on Cape Cod, Massachusetts with her husband, 2 rambunctious boys (aged 4 & 7), and an ever-growing number of pets. She grew up walking nature trails and finding joy in the beauty of nature. She now shares that love for local adventures with her community through her blog, “Get Outside Cape Cod”. Lissy knows that everyone can benefit from spending more time outdoors, and wants to inspire and support families to do just that!

You can find more from Lissy in the following online locations:
Instagram: @getoutsidecapecod
Website: Get Outside Cape Cod
Facebook: @getoutsidecapecod
RWMC Posts: Lissy Perna
CRAFTS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
How to Make 3 DIY Nature Crowns for Kids
- June 15, 2022
Nature crowns are so much fun to make and even more fun to wear! Making a DIY nature crown is a great way to encourage kids to spend time outdoors, collecting nature items, and then inspire their creativity and get crafty! Flower crowns can be made with all kinds of natural materials, most of which can be found right outside your door. Today, Lea Reynolds (New Mexico nurse, Army vet, photographer, and mom of two) is here sharing an easy tutorial for making three different DIY nature crowns for kids. Whether you’re looking for a gender-neutral crown for the king of the woods, a gorgeous colorful flower crown, or a simple crown using the flowers in your yard, there’s sure to be a nature crown perfect for you.

DIY nature crowns for kids

A beautiful nature crown should be a staple in any nature-loving child’s wardrobe. Nature crowns made from twigs and flowers can make your child feel like a wandering wizard or a frolicking fairy exploring the forest. Anyone who’s ever worn a crown before can attest to feelings of exhilaration, creativity, and mystical imagination. Not only are nature crowns fun and easy to make, but foraging for materials gets kids to spend time outside and piques their creativity.

Nature crowns are also a wonderful way to engage children in outdoor and imaginary play! Add a crown to any outfit, and you turn your toddler into a prince! If you really want to take your child’s imaginative play to the next level, add some butterfly wings (moth wings) or a wizard robe to their ensemble, and let your child’s imagination run wild!

There are three common types of crowns that can be made with natural materials: 1) nature crowns made with sticks, leaves, and foliage, 2) wildflower crowns made with just wildflowers, and 3) traditional flower crowns. Today, we will learn how to make all three of these fun nature crafts!

DIY cardboard nature crown

This gender-neutral nature crown is so fun to make and wear. Plus, all the materials can be found in your backyard and recycle bin! It’s an excellent option for creative kids that want to express their personality and display their favorite nature treasures and wild things. I love this type of crown because it helps teach our children the 3 R’s – Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle!

These DIY cardboard nature crowns can be made using nearly anything! We’ve used the same process with paper strips to make leaf crowns using only colorful autumn leaves and fall foilage. We also love adding other fun items that give the crown lots of color and texture, like evergreen twigs, berries, sticks, flowers, and shells.

My son had a blast making his own cardboard nature crown. We took a basket outside and frolicked through our yard, foraging for natural items to use for the crown. Once we had all of our natural elements, we gathered our craft supplies and sat down to create his crown. I helped him glue the pieces on, but he selected all the nature materials and created the patterns. It was so much fun to see what he picked and watch his vision come to life.

When we were finished, he wore his crown and played in the forest and pretended to be a wizard. It brought so much joy to my heart to see him use his imagination to play. We made a fort with sticks and logs, which added a whole new dimension to his pretend play. My niece wore the flower crown I made (see below for instructions), making her feel like a forest princess! They played for hours, creating fairy houses out of sticks and observing different types of insects local to our area.

Cardboard nature crown supplies:
- Durable cardboard or card stock (I used cardboard from a soda box)
- Nature materials (e.g. sticks, leaves, foliage, pine cones, pebbles, shells, etc.)
- Hot glue gun
- Floral scissors
How to make a cardboard nature crown for kids:
1. Cut a piece of cardboard about 3″ in width. Measure your child’s head for the length and cut your cardboard strips accordingly.
2. Lay the cardboard flat and begin designing your crown. Take into consideration the items you are gluing. We added small rocks, which added a lot of weight to the crown, so I had to adjust the size.
3. Next, take your sticks, leaves, and other natural elements and glue them to your crown. If your kids are old enough, let them do this on their own. It’s a great way for older children to work on fine motor skills. Younger children will need more help.
4. When you are done designing your crown, glue the ends together.
5. Wear your crown and have fun playing in the forest!
DIY flower crown for kids (Haku Lei)

Traditional flower crowns are worn for a variety of special occasions and they have the uncanny ability to make you feel like a nature queen! In Hawaii, they are called Haku leis, and they are given to someone you love. These types of crowns are primarily seen at weddings, baby showers, and other special events. However, I like to wear them for holidays as well. History tells us that the circular shape of flower crowns represents power, glory, and eternity. When we add flowers and foliage, it represents love and celebration!

Making your own traditional flower crown is fun, easy, and opens up your creative outlets. This type of nature crown is perfect for the child in your life that loves color and flowers and likes to stand out in a crowd!

I tend to choose flowers that will last a little longer, are bigger in size, and really pop with color! Roses, marigolds, daisies, and protea pincushions are my favorite. Each one of these are found in excess here in the Southwest. For those living in tropical areas, I know you have access to beautiful tropical florals! If you don’t have access to pick these types of flowers, you could also purchase a bouquet from your local flower shop, farmer’s market or grocery store to use in your flower crown. Alternatively, if you want your flower crowns to last a LONG time, you could even use artificial flowers. The same instructions below apply to all variations.

So let’s get to it! Here are the steps and items needed to make a traditional flower crown. It should be noted these same steps apply for making flower crowns with artificial flowers.

DIY flower crown supplies:
- Floral wire
- Floral scissors
- Floral tape or raffia (I like raffia because it is easier to control)
- Flowers
- Greenery (hardy leaves, fern leaves, eucalyptus).
How to make DIY flower crowns for kids:
1. Take your floral wire and measure the crown of your head. Add a few extra inches. Create a loop at one end and wrap the loop a few times for security. Leave a few inches at the other end to loop through when your crown is complete.
2. Trim your flowers. I cut so I have just enough stem to wrap around the crown. Remove leaves and extra stems.
3. Trim your greenery/filler. Remove extra stems.
4. Start with greenery and place it parallel with your wire. Wrap floral tape or rafia around the stem. (I usually wrap 3-4 times and sometimes more if it’s a heavier piece of foliage.)
5. Next, choose your flower. Lay it on the floral wire in the same direction as the greenery, wrap around the stem.
6. Next, add another set of greenery and wrap the rafia.
7. Continue this process until you finish your crown. Alternate between green leaves and flowers.
8. When complete, loop your extra wire into the loop we made and secure it based on your head size.
9. Twirl in the forest or on a beach and enjoy your flower crown!
Flower crown pro tips*

When making your flower crown, alternate between flowers and greenery. Think of the greenery as a frame and the flower as your photograph. Always place a flower in between greenery to frame the flower.

Place your flower crown on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator until you are ready to wear it. This helps to preserve it. When you no longer need your crown, don’t throw it away! Hang it up and let it dry out. They make beautiful art pieces for your home.

When it comes to making crowns for infants, I find it best to use very small flowers and lightweight foliage, like baby’s breath. I made the one pictured above, which was a little too heavy for my 10-month-old. Still, she had so much fun playing in the woods while rocking her flower crown.

*I should mention that I am not a florist or pro flower crown maker, or expert. I attended a few workshops when I lived in Hawaii, and now, I simply enjoy creating flower crowns for special occasions. Moreso, now that I have a daughter. Anyone and everyone can make them!

DIY wildflower crown (no supplies needed)

Ask a handful of nature-lovers about their feelings regarding kids picking wildflowers and you’ll get a handful of mixed feelings. Many of us nature-lovers live by the Leave No Trace principles. One of the principles is to leave nature where it’s found. No picking the wildflowers, as that’s evidence that you were there. Wildflowers are a beautiful, beneficial and necessary part of nature.

However, as parents, we know that in order to raise kids who love, appreciate and respect nature, they need to be able to feel it and touch it and understand it. It’s harder to love something from afar that you’re not allowed to touch or pick. There has to be a balance. Personally, I believe if you are picking the flowers to make something beautiful and are sharing in the appreciation of nature in a way that’s not harmful, overarching, or takes away from others, then why not.

If you’d like to make a DIY nature crown from wildflowers, please only pick what you need in an area where it’s permitted and allowed. Dandelions are a great option for wildflower crowns, as they’re usually very prevalent in your own yard and public areas. They work well for nature crowns due to their strong stems and ability to survive for several days. However, I could not find any dandelions near me, so I used these wildflowers from my backyard (which I planted) instead.

DIY wildflower crown supplies:
- wildflowers (that’s it!)
How to make DIY wildflower crowns for kids:
1. Frolick through your yard, a park, a forest, or somewhere that wildflowers grow.
2. Make sure you have permission to pick the flowers, and it’s not against any rules or regulations.
3. Pick just enough wildflowers to create your crown, making sure to leave plenty for the bees, butterflies, and others to enjoy.
4. Gather your flowers and remove any leaves along the stems.
5. See the photograph below on how to weave each wildflower. Little hands might need help with this process.
6. Continue the process until your crown is complete!
7. Let your kids wear their own nature crowns and take some pictures enjoying the outdoors!
3 easy nature crowns for kids

And there you have it, three beautiful DIY nature crowns for kids that you can easily create! Whether you live in a city, near the mountains, or near a beach, you can create any variation of these nature crowns for your children. The next time you’re on a nature walk or hiking through the woods, take a look around you for potential nature items to use for this really fun craft. To this date, my son still asks to wear his nature crown any time we are headed for the woods. I am so excited to see what you can create! If you have questions, be sure to comment below or reach out. Tag us on social media (use the hashtag #runwildmychild), so we can see what magical crowns you create!

Have you ever made a nature crown with your child?

About the author

Lea is a dedicated wife, adventurous mother, Registered Nurse, and Army veteran. She is from New Mexico and strives each and every day to get outside with her wild toddler and newborn baby girl. She and her husband Brandon both served 8 years in the Army and it was during that time their love for the outdoors and seeing the world was born. When they had their son, that passion only intensified. They love to fly fish, overland in their Jeep, hike, surf, and capture these moments on camera. Lea is a professional photographer on the side and you can always catch her with her camera in her hand. Their goal is to influence more families in their rural state of New Mexico to explore the beauty of the SW while educating them on photography tips, medical tips like First Aid, outdoor safety and gear, etc.

You can find Lea online in the following locations:
Instagram: @wildstokefam
Website: Wild Stoke Fam
RWMC posts: Lea Reynolds
GARDENING, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SPRING
Starting an Outdoor Herb Garden with Your Kids
- June 10, 2022
No food tastes quite as amazing as food that you grow yourself in your own garden. Whether you’re growing a large garden plot full of vegetables or a couple of small containers of herbs, there’s something magical about growing your own food and herbs. And, of course, kids can help out and learn to appreciate the joy of gardening as well. Today, Lauren Cain, Texas homeschooling mom of three, is here sharing her family’s experience with starting and growing an outdoor herb garden. She’ll walk you through the process of prepping your soil, choosing your plants, and how to get the kids involved in the whole process. Happy gardening!

Growing herbs with kids

There’s something about spring that seems to give even the brownest of thumbs the urge to put a seed in the earth and watch it slowly flourish. I am one of those brown thumbs, both literally and figuratively, who has attempted repeatedly to plant herbs and vegetables only for them to reach their inevitable untimely death weeks later. But this year is different! We’re determined to start and grow an herb garden!

Kids are intrigued by planting seeds. But, because the process of getting to the finished plant can be a long one, kids’ interest wanes fairly quickly. The difficult part for me, and so many would-be gardeners, has always been that my seedlings could never really get far beyond the sprouting phase. So, this year I decided to try something new. Today, I am going to show you the easiest way, in my opinion, to start a garden with your kids that will immediately garner their excitement. I will also share what I have learned through this process which has allowed our garden to flourish and reap a harvest.

Start with plants

I wholeheartedly believe that our garden’s success is largely due to the fact that we did not start it with seeds this year. As I mentioned earlier, our previous attempts growing an herb garden from seeds never made it past the sprouting phase. Some of you may have had more luck than us with seeds, but if you want to guarantee that your plants will at least get the “plant” stage, skip the seeds.

This year, instead of purchasing seeds, I visited our local Home Depot to purchase a variety of vegetables, herbs, and fruit plants that were already growing strong. I felt confident because the plants at the store were already eons ahead of any of the seeds that I’ve ever planted! They had roots and strong stems and leaves, oh my!

My kids were also ecstatic because they were looking at live plants from the beginning and not simply seeds covered by dirt. You can get your kids involved even at this stage by having them choose the plants they want to grow. After all, it is their garden as well. We settled on tomatoes, bell pepper, squash, cucumber, strawberries, sweet onions, sage, mint, rosemary, chives, fennel, thyme, and basil. While transplants are notorious for being more expensive than a packet of seeds, there are a lot of benefits to using them. The benefits of planting transplants are:
- They mature sooner than if you had planted seeds, which means an earlier harvest.
- They save time and are ready to go into the soil immediately.
- The transplanted plants have stronger root systems which make them less vulnerable to weather conditions.
Choose your plants wisely

When choosing which plants to have in your garden, I would highly suggest researching plant compatibility. Basically, you need to make sure that your plants will be friends and not foes to each other. This was something that I almost learned the hard way when I planted 2 mint plants smack dab in the middle of my garden bed. If you’re a newbie gardener, you’re probably thinking, “what’s the big deal?” Well, mint is an aggressive plant that has the power to take over your garden completely. Yikes! Luckily, I was made aware of my mistake and quickly replanted the mint in a pot before its roots had a chance to take hold.

While you might not want mint in your garden bed, there are other plants that are highly compatible and beneficial when planted next to each other. For example, if you are planting tomatoes, you should also plant basil nearby. Basil repels insects that can harm tomato plants and can also improve yield.

Get the kids involved

My kids were happy to see the live plants, but even more so at the fact that it meant we were going to be elbow-deep in dirt! We inherited a semi-raised bed in our backyard from previous owners, but it was in serious need of some TLC. So, armed with shovels and garden forks, my kids, husband, mom, and I got to work making the soil perfect for our new transplants.

The great thing about gardening is that it is an incredible learning opportunity for kids that is also really fun. My kids have been fascinated with the garden every step of the way. They were surprisingly excellent help with prepping the soil and especially enjoyed helping to pull the weeds out of the garden bed.

Choosing the right containers

Keep in mind that your transplants will not necessarily have to be planted in the ground. If you’re tight on space or simply don’t want to plant in the ground, you could also use pots or large stand-alone raised garden beds. The majority of the plants in our garden are in the ground. However, some of our herbs are potted in containers, which we can move around to give them exactly what they need. A little bit of research on each plant to help you determine if it’s well-suited for containers or should be planted directly in the ground.

Prepping your garden and soil

When you’re ready to start planting, there are a few things that you’ll need to have on hand and few things to do to your soil to ensure your plants have the best growing environment. Here are some things that you will need to get started on the right foot:
- Shovel
- Garden fork (if you are planting in the ground, this will help to turn over the soil)
- Garden soil (not just for potted plants; we added bags of soil to our garden bed for enrichment)
- Hose or watering cans
- Fertilizer (optional)
These items can be purchased at your local nursery or hardware store. I also found a great selection of smaller gardening tools for my kids at DollarTree. The first step was tilling the dirt in the garden to break up all the hard-packed soil. Next, we added 6 large bags of potting soil to the existing dirt, to add additional nutrients and balance the composition of the soil. You can also add compost to your soil.

Gardening is a team sport

Once your soil is prepped, it’s time to figure out where each plant will go in the garden. The plant info should tell you how much space the plant will need, so you know how far apart to space out each plant to give it plenty of room to flourish without overtaking the nearby plants. Finally, you are ready to plant your transplants.

If there’s one thing that I have learned through this entire experience, is that gardening is a team effort. In planting our transplants, I thoroughly enjoyed working together with my 3-year-old and 5-year-old as we dug holes in the earth deep enough for our plants and gently covered the roots with dirt. It was a joy to see their independence and focus as they took ownership of their work. Don’t be afraid to get your kids involved with each step in this process. The great thing about transplants, is that they are strong. Even if they don’t seem to be “perfectly” planted, the roots will take hold.

H2O and let it grow

After the transplants have been planted, the hard work is nearly over. Now you just have to maintain, feed, water, weed, and be patient. Be sure to research how much water your plants will need to ensure they not only stay alive but thrive. We have been watering our garden with tap water from the hose in the backyard, which has worked out fine. You could also gather and store rainwater for your garden, but that’s a whole other process and post.

I have learned that it is best to water your garden in the evening when temperatures are a bit cooler, rather than in the middle of the day. Watering our garden is an activity that can be handed off almost completely to your children (if they enjoy it). My kids love getting the hose and watering cans out and taking care of the garden each evening. We also take some time to discuss the changes that can be seen happening right before our eyes! It’s so much fun to see them notice the plants getting bigger each day and being observant of how their efforts are paying off.

Herb garden maintenance

Watering will likely not be all that you need to do to keep your garden healthy. Most edible plants will need to be pruned or trimmed. This is done to increase growth and yield, and it is necessary for the overall wellness of the plant. Depending on the transplants that you have, you will need to research how to prune your plant properly. You may also need/choose to fertilize your plants. Adding some plant food to your soil will help the plants get the nutrients they need to grow bigger and heartier.

Harvesting your garden

Since we did not plant our herb garden from seed, we were able to reap a harvest much sooner than we would have otherwise. In just over three months, we’ve already harvested herbs, tomatoes, and a lone strawberry. Our squash should be ready any day now, and we cannot wait.

Each time we are able to harvest, no matter how small, it brightens our day. It is awesome for kids because they are able to see the finished product of their work and patience. They are able to see food that they would normally only get at the grocery store growing right in front of them. It gives them a feeling of pride and accomplishment.

Gardening with kids resources

Starting and growing an herb garden with your kids is an amazing opportunity for learning and connection. If you have been apprehensive about starting a garden (especially with children), I hope that you have learned a few things from this post and that I have encouraged you to go for it. If you’d like more info on gardening with kids, here are a few of our favorite gardening posts:
Are you planting an herb garden with your kids this year?

About the author

Lauren is a California native turned Texan, who loves to get out in nature and discover hidden gems all around the Dallas/Fort Worth area. She is a wife and homeschooling mama to three kids who definitely keep her on her toes. She truly believes in the value of homeschooling and that there are learning opportunities available all around us. In addition to homeschooling, Lauren is also an entrepreneur; she’s the co-owner of Crunchy Boutique (a natural-living/eco-friendly boutique).

You can find more from Lauren in the following places:
Instagram: @crunchymamadfw
Facebook: @crunchymamadfw
RWMC Posts: Lauren Cain
CRAFTS, LESSONS, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, OUTDOORS INSIDE, SPRING
Dissecting Daffodils and Tulips with Kids
- June 2, 2022
Some of the first signs of spring are the colorful blossoms of tulips and daffodils. Without fail, those early pops of springtime color bring delight to our souls. As the tulips and daffodils bravely poke their leaves up through the soil, send out stems and buds, and then finally bloom, they remind us that winter will not last forever. And while they’re beautiful to admire and look at, they’re also a fun and hands-on way for kids to get outside learn about nature! Today, Leslie Alvis, Ohio homeschooling mom of four is going to show you how to dissect some of these beautiful spring flowers and examine them more closely with your children. She’s also got a couple of bonus activities to do with your tulips and daffodils, so be sure to read through the whole post!

Children learn by touching

I loved daffodils and tulips long before I had children. But their wonder and delight grew when I began to experience them with my kids. To a small child, whose outdoor world has been governed by cold and snow for so many months, daffodils and tulips bring sheer amazement. They’re so cheerful, so undaunted by the often frigid world around them.

Children learn so much by touching and feeling the natural world around them. Dissecting tulips and daffodils is particularly delightful because it allows kids to take apart and touch each part of the flowers. Other than common weeds like dandelions, I don’t usually let my kids tear flowers apart! So, this activity definitely felt special to them. It reminded me that the simple beauty of nature brings so much wonder and delight to a child. Learning experiences don’t have to be complicated. They can simply involve removing the delicate pieces of a flower and learning what those pieces are called.

Picking daffodils and tulips

If you choose to do a flower dissection, be sure your child has permission to pick the flowers. Asking before picking flowers has been a hard lesson for each of my children to learn. It usually comes up most during their preschool years. They’re just so overcome by the beauty of the flower, they find picking it irresistible!

Tulips, in particular, seem to just call them. This has always been a big deal because tulips are often a little sparse in our flowerbeds. Yet, at some point in their early years, every one of my children has systematically picked the handful we had. One of my offspring once even picked and dissected the only bud we had, just to see what it looked like inside. Childhood curiosity! This dissection activity satisfies that curiosity. It also deepens kids’ understanding and appreciation of daffodils and tulips.

This is also a great time to teach them that just because it’s okay to pick some flowers doesn’t mean it’s okay to pick all flowers! I try to remind my children of the old adage, “What if everybody did?” If everyone picked every daffodil or tulip they saw, there wouldn’t be any left for us to enjoy in nature.

If you don’t have permission to pick flowers (or don’t have access to flowers), you can usually find cut flowers to purchase at a grocery or flower store.

Daffodil and tulip dissection with kids

Daffodil or tulip dissection is one of the easiest and simplest nature experiments you can do with your kids! All you need is a couple flowers and a sheet of paper. You can also use this printable if you’d rather not make your own. We enjoyed laying out our own pages and labeling them ourselves. If you have a magnifying glass, be sure to keep that handy so your kids can examine each part more closely!

For our daffodil and tulip dissection, we simply separated the pieces of each flower and arranged them on a piece of paper. You can also cut the flower in half with a sharp knife, but my kids voted for taking it apart by hand. That way even the little one could participate.

My oldest daughter copied a chart showing the parts of the flowers, then the younger girls got to arrange their own flower pieces. This simple activity was so much fun! They all learned so much about the details of the flowers. It felt like playing, taking apart the petals and stems and other parts of the blossoms. After dissecting a daffodil, the girls couldn’t wait to try a tulip.

Identifying parts of a daffodil or tulip

For younger children, a simple breakdown of stem, leaves, and petals may be a deep enough look into the parts of the daffodils and tulips. For older kids, we’re also including a more in-depth at the parts of these flowers and their functions. If you’re looking for a little more information about the parts of a daffodil, check out this page.
- Stem: The stem is the tall, green stalk that carries water and nutrients from the earth up to the flower.
- Leaves: This is where photosynthesis happens—where the plant takes the sun’s energy and turns it into food for the plant!
- Spathe: The papery brown sheath that covered the bud before it opened.
- Ovary: Filled with ovules, or eggs, which later become seeds after the flower has been pollinated by bees or other insects.
- Pistil: This is the center part of the flower, including the style and the stigma at the top.
- Stamen: The six little stalks surrounding the pistil. The stalk part is called the filament and the pollen-covered tip is the anther.
- Petals: This is most visible and colorful part of the flower.
- Corona: The inside layer of petals on the daffodil, also called the crown or trumpet
Planting bulbs with kids

Daffodils and tulips are both bulb plants, meaning they grow from a bulb deep in the earth, rather than a seed. The bulb stores up energy for the plant and goes dormant over the winter. Daffodil and tulip bulbs are best planted in the fall, so they can emerge as the daylight strengthens and the earth thaws at the end of winter. A healthy bulb will multiply year by year—if you plant a single daffodil bulb, within a few years you should have several!

My mother-in-law likes to tell how she once assigned her children the job of planting some daffodil bulbs in her new flower bed. They carefully inserted a single bulb in each hole, neatly spaced around the flower garden. The next year, she had single daffodils blooming everywhere! But after several years, she had the beautiful clusters she had once dreamed of.

To turn this into a long-term science project, plant some daffodil or tulip bulbs with your child this fall. You can find them at home improvement or garden centers in the fall months. You can also order them from seed catalogs or even see if a friend or neighbor has some to share. Then plant them about twice as deep as the bulb is tall (probably about 2-3 inches deep). In the spring, you’ll have your own daffodils and tulips to enjoy!

Tulips and daffodils in the cold

As cold-hardy plants, tulips and daffodils are able to survive chilly and even briefly freezing weather. If you live in an area where spring comes in fits and starts, like we do, you’ve probably seen daffodils with their heads bowed down with frost or even tulips dusted with snow. Amazingly, once the temperatures warm and the sun comes out, these hardy plants usually bounce back like nothing ever happened! Although temperatures below 25 may kill the blooms, the plants themselves will survive and bloom again the next year.

Making spring flower bouquets with kids

If you can’t get enough of these beautiful spring flowers, here are some more activities involving daffodils and tulips. First of all, make flower arrangements! This is one of the easiest and most rewarding hands-on activities you could ever let your kids do. It builds artistic skills and deeply satisfies the love of beauty that’s built into every one of us. If you don’t have spring flowers to pick, maybe a neighbor or friend has a yard full of them. Many times people won’t mind letting children pick a few for a bouquet.

Flower picking instructions for kids

This is a great time to help children learn how to pick flowers intentionally. Have them think through these questions as they select and pick their flowers:
- How many flowers do I need for this arrangement?
- Which colors and shapes will look good in my arrangement?
- What varieties/colors are there most of?
- Which flowers can I pick without leaving a hole in the beauty of the mother plant?
- Are there other flowers or greenery to pick from to complement the flowers in my arrangement?
Teach your kids how to pick the flowers carefully, carefully breaking off or cutting the stem. If you have a vase in mind, show them the vase and how much stem length they’ll need for their arrangement. (For some reason it’s hard for kids to learn to leave enough stem with the flower. They seem to have their eye on the flower and break the stem just past the flower. It always takes a while to teach them to cut the stem with their flower!) But most of all, just let them have fun putting together beautiful flowers to display inside your home. Or have them make a bouquet to give to a friend or neighbor!

Dyeing daffodils with kids

Did you know daffodils can be turned different colors? This fun and simple experiment shows how their veins draw fluids up, through the stems, and out into the petals. Place a daffodil with white or light-colored petals into a glass of water and add food coloring. Better yet, try several daffodils in different colors of water. Set in a safe place and check back every day to watch the magic happen!

You should be able to see colors in the petals within 24 hours. My kids are fascinated with this–even our four-year-old loved checking in to see the colors changing. We’ve had issues with the flowers beginning to wilt and fade before the colors had time to make a really vibrant difference, though. So I’d recommend using the freshest blooms you can find and a strong food coloring solution for the best results.

In the meantime, since I failed to get a photo before our daffodils started getting all sad and wilted, my friend Ginny shared one of her amazing colored daffodils. Aren’t those lacy-colored veins just gorgeous?

Photo credit Ginny Yurich @1000hoursoutside

Spring flower fun for kids

Whether you dissect them, dye them, plant them, or just pick some for a bouquet, daffodils and tulips are some of spring’s greatest delights. So be sure to get out and find some to enjoy with your kids!

Have you ever dissected tulips or daffodils with your kids?

About the author

Leslie is an Ohio farm girl and chaser of light, children, and sometimes chickens. She’s a lover of Jesus, wife to her high school sweetheart, and a homeschooling mom of four wild rascals who love the great outdoors as much as she does. As a family, they love hiking, camping, fishing, and just about any outdoor activity. She and her husband are just beginning the process of building a homestead from the ground up, doing most of the work themselves. Leslie has a lifelong obsession with writing and capturing everyday life from behind the lens. Follow along with their homesteading, homeschooling, and everyday adventures on her Instagram account.

You can find more from Leslie in the following locations:
Instagram: @c_l_allofus
Leslie’s RWMC posts: Leslie Alvis
CRAFTS, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, URBAN NATURE
Plein Air Painting With Kids
- May 2, 2022
As the weather warms up, we start looking for any excuse to take our everyday activities outside. We love having dinner outside, reading outside, and playing games outdoors. Taking art and crafts outside is another fun way to maximize your outdoor hours while doing something fun and productive. Today, Michelle Garret, California mom and founder of Wonder Club Explorers, is here sharing all about plein air painting – the act of painting outdoors! Whether you have a budding artist, a kid that loves nature, or just want a way to let your kids be artistic with less mess and clean up, plein air painting is for you!

Slow down with plein air painting

As busy parents, we often find ourselves on the go, moving from one activity to the next, and collapsing into bed by the end of the day. Taking some time to slow things down and get outside is imperative for our kids (and for us). We know the benefits and importance of spending time in nature. While outdoors is the perfect place to be active and “run wild,” it’s also nice to have some downtime in nature to be thoughtful, observant, and creative!

Plein air painting with kids is an amazing activity that combines the benefits of nature and art. It is a fun and relaxing way to spend a sunny afternoon with your children, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday activities. It lets them be still in nature, but also gives them something to do that engages their mind and stimulates their senses. Painting is one of my child’s favorite things to do outside, and I’m excited to share this activity with you today. Here’s all you need to know about the art of painting in the outdoors with kids.

Note: “plein” is pronounced like plain or plane

What is plein air painting?

Painting en Plein air is a French term that means painting in open air and describes the act of painting outdoors. The plein air style of painting is outdoor art, in and around nature. It is a direct contrast to painting in a studio with fixed lights or objects. It’s not necessarily a style of art or with any particular medium, but a method of creating based on your location (outdoors) and subject (nature/landscape).

Plein air painting is usually art that captures the nature around them. Whether that’s the full landscape you see before you, or maybe just a tree, flower, or garden in your yard. It’s creating art from nature right in front of your eyes, not from a photograph or memory. When an artist paints in nature, they can better observe landscapes and their changing conditions, be that weather or light.

Plein air painting is a sensory experience

We often hear of the importance of giving your children full-body sensory experiences. Plein air painting is definitely a sensory experience, which creates a 3-dimensional experience and helps your children create powerful memories. When you paint outdoors, the sounds, smells, and sights of your surroundings add inspiration to your creative pursuits. You can feel the breeze, hear the rustling leaves, and smell the freshly-cut grass.

Famous plein air artists

Painting outdoors is not a new activity, by any means. Here’s a little ditty for all of you kids who’ve ever taken an Art History 101 class. The artists who revolutionized this painting style in the late 1800s were known as Impressionists. The most renowned impressionists included Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh. Those are some serious heavy hitters of the art world! Plein air painting with kids will put your child in very good company!

Where to paint outdoors

The great thing about painting outside is that it can be done anywhere! The world is your canvas (literally). Interested in painting seascapes? Head to the beach! Interested in painting saguaros and sagebrush? Head to the desert! Interested in painting flowers and butterflies? Your backyard, local park, or nearby botanical garden may all be perfect locations!

The great thing about nature is that you have a lot of options for the subject matter. Outdoor painting sessions need not be as divergent as desert or ocean, but could simply be the backyard or neighborhood park. There’s no limit to where you can paint, you just have to decide where to start and give it a try!

What do you need for Plein air painting with kids?

We like to think of plein air painting as a picnic with a side of art supplies. For an outdoor painting session, you’ll want to pack art supplies such as watercolors, acrylics, or colored pencils. As for your canvas, the thicker the paper, the better. Can you use a sketchbook, thick cardstock, a canvas, or even a large piece of cardboard (this is a great way to get some use out of all those boxes). You’ll also want some paper towels and a cup of water so you can clean your brushes in between colors. These are the basic items one needs for a Plein air painting adventure.

Serious hobbyists and professionals will sometimes carry with them a portable easel stand. Easels are not necessary, but they can be helpful when your kids want to be at eye level with their subject matter. You don’t need to rush out to your arts and crafts store to make an easel. Portable easels can be easily made out of everyday materials like this cardboard art easel or a rustic one made out of sticks and twine.

Whichever landscape is your destination, dress appropriately for your location and the weather. Bring sunscreen and a hat for sun protection, plus refreshments so you don’t have to interrupt your creative inspiration when thirst and hunger strike.

Plein air painting out and about

Plein air painting doesn’t require a lot of planning or preparation. For the most part, you can find objects and landscapes right outside your house that are perfect for painting. However, if you want to take the show on the road, we suggest picking a location in a park or near a river where there are a lot of trees, birds, and shade. This will not only give your child plenty of inspiration to paint but also make them feel like it’s more of a special occasion.

If you’re away from home, bring a few gallons of water with you for cleaning brushes, and be sure to use non-toxic paints that won’t hurt nature around you. Bring a trash bag with you to remove any trash you may create (or see/find in the area) to leave your location better than you found it.

Artistic elements of plein air painting

You don’t have to worry too much about artistic elements with plein air painting with kids. However, if you have a child that’s into art or serious about their creation, there are a few things about art and observation that you can teach them to help them create their masterpieces. Here are few ways to help your child observe the area around them, decide what to paint, and how to capture it.

The power of observation

Once you arrive at your destination, spend some time with your kids discussing and making observations about the landscape they’re going to paint. Younger kids might rev up their observation skills with a game of “I spy.” Older kids might jump right in with interesting observations about unusual things they see. The goal of spending time focusing on observation of their surroundings is that it helps them to hone in on what to paint.

Kids might become fascinated by the shape of the clouds in the sky, the shape of a tree, or the colors of the plants in a garden. By talking through all of the options in advance, kids strengthen their powers of observation and get better with decision-making skills at the same time.

Composition and rule of thirds

As you talk to your kids about what they see and what they may eventually paint, you’ll also want to help them understand composition. As you’re gazing out at your subject matter, talk to your kids about artistic considerations such as foreground, middle ground, and background. Talk about the elements in the landscape and how close they are to you (and to each other) – this will help them realize that things farther away look smaller than items nearby.

Have them look at the horizon and where the landscape meets the sky.If you’re painting a beach landscape, talk about the horizon line where the water meets the sky. What do you see above the horizon? What does the water look like at the horizon (and is different than what it looks like up close)? Are there waves? Are people frolicking on the beach in front of you or out in the water? And as you guide their eyes to the sand, are there beach umbrellas or sand toys?

Spending time observing the elements of a landscape helps young artists to understand how to layout the composition on their own canvas. In art and photography, this is known as the “rule of thirds.” If you divide your canvas into thirds, either vertically or horizontally, the focal areas of your composition should line up at the meeting points of your imaginary grid. However, the rule of thirds is just a guideline, and your little artists may not want to be encumbered by rules when being creative.

Think about color

Finally, have your child think about color when they’re plein air painting. Do the colors they see match the colors of their paint (or should they mix them a little to see if they can get a color a little more true to life)? Let them observe what happens when you mix colors. Let them add more water to their watercolor paints and see what happens. Experimentation is key and so much fun for kids.

Plein ol’ fun!

Plein air painting is a great creative outlet for young artists that puts kids outdoors and in nature. It’s also a great way to expand upon school topics such as art history, geography, atmospheric sciences, horticulture, earth science, and more. Kids of all ages (and adults) can benefit from spending time in nature, being still and observant, and the creative act of painting outdoors.

Earn a patch for painting

We hope you are inspired to pack some paints and head outdoors with the kids. We are so passionate about plein air painting that my company, Wonder Club Explorers, has created a Plein Air Painter Merit Patch. This is just one of the 18 patches offered with the Wonder Club Explorers Adventure Kit. Every artist has a different perspective, and it’s so much fun to watch kids paint, create and express themselves. Wonder Club Explorers is an independent scouting program for kids without all the hassle of meetings and fundraising.

So, get out there, have fun and remember to tag us on social media using the hashtags #runwildmychild and #wonderclubexplorers on your next Plein air adventure!

About the author

Michelle spends her days working on projects to improve the quality of life for the citizens of her community and her nights reading books to her 6-year-old about every kind of dinosaur there ever was (there are 900 validated species, in case you’re wondering). Together with her son, Michelle created Wonder Club Explorers, a company to inspire wonder and curiosity in kids. She carves out time for herself on the weekends as an early morning exerciser and metalsmith of fine jewelry. Michelle is also the co-host of the Run Wild My Child podcast. She resides in Altadena with her husband and son amongst California Oak trees and a stone’s throw of the San Gabriel Mountains.

You can find Michelle online in the following locations:
Instagram: @wonderclubexplorers
Website: http://www.wonderclubexplorers.co
RWMC posts: Michelle Garrett
CRAFTS, GARDENING, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SPRING
100+ Spring Outdoor Activities for Kids
- April 4, 2022
Spring is in the air! I’m so excited to officially welcome you to the season of green and growth! As the weather warms back up and the sun stays up later, it’s the perfect time to get those kids outside. After a long winter with bitterly cold temperatures and lots of time spent inside, we couldn’t be more excited to get outside into the sunshine, get dirty, and be active. It’s so important to make sure your child gets plenty of fresh air, exercise, sunshine, and Vitamin N (nature). To help out, we’ve put together this giant comprehensive list of 100+ spring outdoor activities for kids! The items, activities, acts of service, treats, experiments, and crafts on this list are guaranteed to get you outside and active, creating and exploring.

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Special thanks to our Instagram community

These fun activities are guaranteed to keep your kids (and you) entertained, learning and active while outside this spring! These activities have been tried, tested and kid-approved by our online Facebook community, followers, editors, writers and contributors! In addition, all of the photos in the post of kids outside having fun are from our absolutely amazing Instagram community! A very special thanks to all the parents that let us feature their beautiful images.

Spring activities for kids printable PDF checklist

While this post will give you all the details and variations for all 100+ outdoor winter activities for kids, if you want a printable checklist version, CLICK HERE to sign up for our newsletter and get a free printable of the list!

Feature image credit: @raisinguntamedminis

100+ spring outdoor activities for kids

As the weather warms up and the days are longer, getting outside with the kids should be a top priority. Our family always makes a springtime bucket list, which includes tons of fun ways to get outside and active together as a family. We put together this giant list of over 100 fun things to do outside with your kids this spring! We’ve got all the traditional activities and we’re throwing in dozens more than you may not expect! So we hope this list will help you plan fun outdoor adventures for your family this season. And if there’s anything we’ve forgotten, let us know in the comments below and we’ll get it added!

1. Puddle jumping

Jumping in a puddle is an absolute classic quintessential rite of passage for any child. So often kids are asked to refrain from getting wet and muddy. Give them the gift of freedom to explore and get as messy as they want for a day. Dress them in their rain boots and whatever else you don’t care getting wet (plenty of layers if it’s still cold) and encourage them to splash! They’ll be so excited about the opportunity and will remember this for a lifetime.

2. Host an outdoor tea party

Outdoor tea parties can be fun any season of the year. Spring is a perfect time though, with fresh green grass and flowers everywhere. Have your kids dress up in something fun and fancy! Pull out a little table and chairs into the backyard and whip up some tea and a light snack. Try traditional cucumber sandwiches or make it a sweet tea time with cookies or cake. Depending on the age and fanciness of your guest, break out the good china and really impress them! (or even just use glass coffee mugs, which are fun!) If your kids don’t like tea, substitute lemonade, sparkling water or fruit-infused water.

3. Make a flower bouquet

Spring is a wonderful time for finding and picking flowers. Bring a pair of scissors on your walk and snip a few flowers for a bouquet (as long as you have permission). Springtime flowers could include daffodils, tulips, orchids, primrose, snowdrops, and violets. Wildflowers make beautiful and colorful arrangements. But only take a few and make sure to leave plenty for the bees!

Feature image credit: @sara_mccarty

4. Dig for worms

One of my favorite memories I have with all three of my kids was teaching them how to dig for worms when they were little. There’s something about discovering a worm right under your feet that blows kids’ little minds! And you don’t need much to dig for worms. Find an outdoor area where you can dig (a garden or near the edge of the woods is ideal). The best time to find worms near the surface is after a rain when the soil is moist. Give each kid a shovel or garden spade and encourage them to dig into the dirt.

If your kids are little, dig a hole for them. Once you have a large scoop of dirt, break it up gently with your fingers, carefully looking for worms. If you find a worm, gently let your child hold it in their palm and let the worm wiggle around. When you’re finished observing the worm, you can set it free in a garden, compost area or watch it return to the soil.

5. Put out hummingbird feeders

Hummingbirds are delightful and highly desirable backyard birds. No matter how many times you see one it is a thrill to watch these tiny birds flit around and drink from flowers and feeders. It’s a common misconception that just hanging a hummingbird feeder in your yard will attract flocks of hummingbirds. There’s actually a lot more that goes into getting hummingbirds to visit your feeder, but luckily it’s not too hard! The best, and easiest, way to attract hummingbirds is to plant their favorite nectar-producing flowers and plants. These plants are usually bright colors (hummingbirds especially love red flowers) and many have long, tubular blossoms.

Some flowers that attract hummingbirds are the trumpet vine, trumpet honeysuckle, bee balm, hollyhock, zinnia, and sage. Hang multiple feeders in a low activity area that is near the flowers you planted for them. Fill your feeders with homemade hummingbird nectar, which is basically just sugar water (no red dye). Hang a variety of feeders in various locations. Different hummingbirds may have a preferred feeder style, so choose a variety of types to cater to their preferences. Change the water out once a week and sit back and enjoy the hummingbird watching with your kids!

Feature image credit: @kristinvucinaphotography

6. Visit a tulip field

If you’re lucky enough to live close to somewhere with gorgeous tulip fields, then please make sure you visit this spring. Not only are these places absolutely spectacular photo opportunities, but they’re just magical places to experience! Make the most of out what spring has to offer and spend some time amongst the flowers!

7. Play disc golf

Playing Frisbee is a great alternative to traditional pitch and catch. The flat disc is usually much easier for kids to toss and catch. Throw one around at your local park and see who can throw it the farthest or with the most accuracy. Once you’ve gotten the hang on it, try your luck at disc golf! There are free courses all across the country and you don’t need much to get started. It’s easy enough to learn in a day (although much harder to master), but so much fun for the whole family!

Feature image credit: @ksenia_belanger

8. Go fishing

Fishing is a great activity that the whole family can enjoy and do nearly anywhere there’s water! If you’ve never fished before, do a little bit of research about what the fish in your area eat and when/where to go. Ask at a fishy friend or at a local bait shop. A lot of state parks will even provide fishing gear for the day for free! Trust me, it doesn’t get much better than seeing your child’s entire face light up when she/he lands a fish! Here’s a great post on how to raise kids that love to fish.

9. Mud faces on trees

Making forest faces is a fun and simple outdoor springtime activity that can be done anywhere there are trees. All you need is some thick mud (or clay) and a variety of natural items for decorations (leaves, moss, small sticks, stones, acorns, rocks, etc.) and an accessible tree. Press a big hunk of mud/clay onto the tree trunk, smoothing the edges down onto the bark. Add a selection of leaves and moss for the hair or crown of the face. Add acorns or rocks for eyes and nose. Maybe a stick for a mouth. Get as creative as you want! Hopefully, the faces will stay for a while for other people to enjoy, but there is the chance they may dry out and fall off, or wash off in the rain.

Feature image credit: @sunniemf

10. Chase a rainbow

Is there really a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? You’ll never know unless you find it! For a fun spring outdoor activity with kids, try chasing a rainbow! Next time you see one, go for a walk (or get in a wagon or even in the car) and try to chase down the end and find that pot of gold! Let the kids choose which way you go. Who knows where you’ll end up, but it’ll certainly be an adventure! And if you find the gold, make sure to share some with me!

11. Fly a kite

Spring is the perfect time to fly a kite! The months in spring tend to be windy, which is perfect kite-flying weather. Pick a location with a wide-open expanse of land and air, so you have plenty of room to chase your kite and not run into any obstacles. If you have more than one kid, give them each a kite and let them race them or challenge each other to kite acrobatics!

Feature image credit: @wildpoppies.and.wheatfields

12. Spring flower suncatchers

If you want a fun craft project to make with kids that will add some nature and color to your home, try making flower suncatchers. Start by collecting flowers that are bright and colorful. You can dry them flat under a book or try microwaving them in between fabric under a brick (I’ve heard this works well to preserve the color). Once flat and dry, seal the flowers between two pages of laminating paper or even between 2 pieces of glass (in a frame). Hang them in your window and let the sun shine through! Here’s a great tutorial for how to make flower suncatchers with kids.

13. Plant a tree

Spring is a great time to plant a tree. And planting a tree is easier than you might think! Once you’ve picked out your tree and your location, dig a hole that’s at least twice as wide as but no deeper than the rootball. You want to give the roots room to spread out — to help establish the tree. But you don’t want to dig deeper than the tree root ball. Sitting the tree too deep into the hole can cause water to pool around the trunk.

Place the tree in the hole, then begin backfilling with the soil that was removed from the hole. You want to evenly fill in the dirt all around the rootball. Pack in the soil around the tree root ball using your feet. Create a small ringed dam around the trunk of the tree to keep water closer to the root ball during the tree’s first days. Water the tree as soon as possible after planting it. And by water, I mean really soak it! Water thoroughly every day for the first 2 weeks. Then, cut back to watering once every couple days for the next several weeks. Finally, water the tree once per week for the rest of the first growing season.

Feature image credit: @sara_mccarty

14. Grill outside

In my opinion, almost all food tastes better when cooked outside over an open flame. Take advantage of the warmer weather and extra daylight by cooking dinner on the grill. Whether you’re grilling hotdogs, steaks, hamburgers or veggies, it’s guaranteed to taste amazing. And, if you’ve never tried to make your own pizza on the BBQ grill, what are you waiting for?! Buy some premade pizza dough (or make your own – it’s easy!) and your favorite pizza toppings. Have everything ready to go, then slide the crust on the grill for a few minutes. Flip the whole thing over and then add your pizza toppings while it cooks. Your grill can get much hotter than your oven, so it’ll make your crust extra crispy and delicious! And don’t forget the s’mores!

15. Press flowers

Flowers are popping up everywhere you look during the spring months! Take advantage of the abundance and preserve some for a cold rainy day. Collect flowers on a sunny day when they’re not wet or damp. Place the flowers between sheets of parchment or wax paper and lay a heavy book on top. Let the flowers dry for 7-10 days. Use the flowers for art decorations, cards, journals, luminaries or anything your heart desires! We’ve tried this flower press kit and made beautiful art!

Feature image credit: @sara_mccarty

16. Dandelion tea

Did you know that dandelions were healthy and delicious? Dandelions are packed with nutrients and antioxidants that can boost your health. You can make dandelion tea from the leaves, flowers, or roots of the plants, with the latter being the most common method. Herbal tea made with the flowers tends to be more delicate and sweet. Check out this post for all the details on how to make your own dandelion tea this spring.

17. Go green for St. Pat’s

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this spring by going green for the day. How you choose to “go green” is totally up to you! Maybe that means wearing all green clothing head-to-toe! Perhaps you choose to eat and drink only green foods all day or for an entire meal. Maybe you simply choose to be extra eco-friendly (“green”) for the day and pick up litter or make crafts from recycled materials. There are so many fun ways to celebrate being green!

18. Explore a pond

Exploring ponds with kids is not only fascinating and fun, but it’s also educational! There’s so much to see, feel, observe and learn about around a pond. Technology and screen time cannot replace the hands-on lessons children learn just playing outside in the amazing classroom of nature. Ponds are a fascinating place, an ecosystem in their own right. They sustain entire life cycles of plants and animals in their own self-contained space.

In the summer they hum with life, providing a vibrant atmosphere to explore. From the birds and insects filling the air with song to the fish flashing by in the water and the bullfrogs calling just out of reach, they are a child’s paradise of discoveries. So grab a bucket and a butterfly net, and head to the pond together. Here’s a great post on all kinds of fun things you can do while exploring a pond with kids.

Feature image credit: @soulshinephotographer

19. Start seedlings in eggshells

Gardening has to be one of my all-time favorite springtime outdoor activities. I love everything about starting our garden every spring. One of our favorite things to do is start our plants from seeds in eggshells. All you need to do is save those eggshells from your breakfast (try to break just the tip of the shell off and pour out the egg). Fill the shell with potting soil and one seed. Push the seed down into the soil, but not too deep. Water the seeds and keep the soil moist (but not soaked). Put them in the egg carton (as a holder) in a sunny window and watch them sprout! When ready to plant, simply drop the entire egg into the soil. It will provide great nutrients and calcium for your plants.

Photo credit: @blackadventurecrew

20. Outdoor workout

Spring is a great time to workout outside with the kids. Bring them along on a run around the neighborhood. Do yoga together outside in the back yard. Take them to the local park and hit all the exercise circuits on the trail. Or plan your own outdoor circuit workout that you can do together and get them involved. Kids that see their parents being active are more likely to be active as well. Be an example and get out and sweat! Here’s a great post all about how to successfully exercise outdoors with kids.

21. Make a fairy garden

If you have little ones that into all things fairies and magic, you definitely need to add a fairy garden to your spring bucket list. Fairy gardens are easy to make and can be done in any way your heart desires. They usually contain a small house or door for your local fairy to use. Decorate as fancy as you want with lights, glitter, beads, rocks, decorations, etc. There are even companies that make adorable fairy garden kits to make it easy for you! Set up your fairy garden in a place your kids can access and let them get creative!

Feature image credit: @sara_mccarty

22. Egg hunt

You don’t have to celebrate Easter to do an egg hunt (change it to a painted rock hunt). We love taking the traditional indoor egg hunt outside and scaling it up! Our entire neighborhood participates in a giant front-yard egg hunt for the kids on our street every year. Each house hides 50 eggs and the kids run wild through everyone’s yard finding as many eggs as they can. Once they find the eggs, they spend the rest of the day (week) rehiding them for each other and doing it all over again! It’s the gift that just keeps giving.

23. Seed paper

Making seed paper is a great activity for kids any time of year. Spring is great though, because you can plant the paper right away (because kids love instant satisfaction). All you need is a bunch of recyclable paper (coloring book pages or newspaper), a blender, water, seeds and a screen. Shred the paper and soak it in water. Whip it up in the blender until it’s pulp. Mix in the seeds and then strain over a mesh screen. Once dry, you can cut into any shape you wan, write messages on them and give to friends and neighbors to plant! We’ve got a great post on how to make your own DIY seed paper with kids.

Feature image credit: @soulshinephotographer

24. Hatch baby chicks

Watching a chick hatch from an egg is one of the most amazing experiences. This activity requires a lot of prep work and planning, so it might not be suitable or possible for everyone. However, if you have chickens or know someone that will take the chicks after hatching, this experience is so worth it! A lot of classrooms hatch chicks as a lesson for the kids. Here’s a great post on everything you need to know and set up for your chick hatching experience.

25. Dandelion crown

Dandelion crowns are easier to make than you might expect! Not only are dandelions prevalent in the spring, but they’re completely free and fun! Start by collecting as many dandelions as you can. Make sure to keep the stems as long as possible. Wrap the second dandelion around the stem of the first and add the stem to the first stem. Add another and continue until you have enough flowers to wrap around your head like a crown. Use this dandelion crown pictorial for reference. Wear and enjoy!

26. Make a rain gauge

April showers are much more fun when you’re active in the rain. Get your kids excited about rain by making a rain gauge to monitor how much rain you’re getting. All you need is a mason jar (or other glass container) that you can write/paint on. Have your kids use a ruler and make marks on the glass for each inch of water. Place the rain gauge outside on a level surface away from overhead trees or awnings. After each rain, go out and check the gauge to see how much rain you got! Keep track of your findings in a nature journal or rain tracker chart. If you want more detailed instructions, plus a printable rain tracker, check out the DIY rain gauge in our shop.

Feature image credit: @sara_mccarty

27. Blow bubbles

While this activity may sound super simplistic, that’s the beauty of bubbles! No set up or planning involved. All you need is a wand and some bubble juice (water + soap) to entertain and excite kids. My little ones can blow, chase, catch and pop bubbles for hours! They never seem to get tired of bubbles. A good bubble machine is worth its weight in gold and delight kids of all ages (even adults have a hard time not trying to catch them!).

28. Grass whistling

Did you know you can turn a single blade of grass into a whistle? Start by picking a thick and wide piece of grass. Some varieties of lawn grass are better than others for this purpose. You might want to pick several blades of grass and experiment with different ones, since each one will whistle at a different pitch. If you’re uneasy with dirt, feel free to rinse the grass thoroughly to remove any dirt or possible pet urine. You can use dish soap if it makes you feel better. Pat or blog dry with a paper towel. Hold the blade of grass flat and stretched between your fingers. Gently press to your lips and blow lightly on the blade. If it doesn’t whistle right away, keep trying! You’ll quickly figure out the best way to do this and get the hang of it!

Photo credit: @rui4050

29. Make a flower lei

A lei can be any objects strung together with the intent to be worn. Leis can be made from just about anything…shells, paper, money, ribbon, candy, fabric. Most commonly they are made from fresh plants, such as flowers and leaves. All you need to make a lei: fresh flowers, large needle, waxed dental floss, and scissors. Gather your flowers, then cut the flowers off near the top of the stem. Cut a long piece of dental floss and thread it through your needle and tie off the floss so that it doesn’t slip out of the eye of the needle. Carefully thread the needle through the flower. Go from the stem through the middle of the flower and then gently move it down the floss.

Make sure to leave a few inches at the bottom of the floss. Continue stringing flowers until it’s the desired length and then tie off!

Feature image credit: @carrinlewis_photography

30. Plant a garden

While gardening with kids might sound like a lot of work and a bit of a time commitment, it doesn’t have to be! If you’re new to gardening, start small with just a couple of plants. There are plenty of fruits and vegetables that are easy to grow with kids. You also don’t need a huge amount of space. While a large plot is ideal, lots of plants can be grown in containers on your back porch or windowsill. We have a great post on all the benefits of gardening and everything you need to know to get started gardening with kids.

31. Flower paintbrush

Art projects are even more fun when you do them outside with natural materials. My kids love painting with flowers. We start by collecting various plants and flowers while hiking in our neighborhood or local park. We take them home and turn the flowers into paintbrushes by dipping them in paint and using them to color paper. The different shapes and textures of the flowers each create unique patterns. The kids love experimenting with various flowers and finding their favorites. We then let the flowers dry and make an arrangement of painted flowers to leave on our tabletop. They make a beautiful and colorful bouquet!

32. Hike & seek

Kids of all ages love to play hide and seek. There’s something so fun about coming up with clever hiding spots and the excited anticipation of waiting to be discovered that kids love! While normally played inside, we have a blast playing hide and seek outside, as well. Depending on your location, you’ll want to set boundaries ahead of time and explain to the kids anywhere that’s off-limits or out of bounds. Pay attention to where they’re hiding, but allow them the freedom to explore and get creative.

Feature image credit: @nicolejkolbe

33. Start a compost bin

Spring is a great time to set up and start a compost bin. Composting is a quick, easy and inexpensive way to eliminate food waste in landfills and help the environment. Plus, you end up with great fertilized soil for your gardens. You don’t need any fancy or expensive equipment either. A plain giant closed plastic container with a lid will work just fine (something like this). Drill some holes in the top and sides so your compost can breathe. To get your compost off to a good start, lay some ripped up cardboard or newspaper (black and white) in the bottom of the bin. Top that with some straw or leaves, then top that with some garden soil.

Now start adding your food scraps into your compost. The smaller the pieces you add, the faster you will have beautiful soil from it. Each time you add something to your compost pile, give a little stir. Things are decomposing when they’re giving off a lot of heat. If there isn’t any heat in there, your composting magic is not occurring. Make sure to balance your greens and brown (the ideal ratio is 25 parts browns to 1 part greens). For a big list of things you can compost, see this post.

34. Celebrate May Day

May Day (May 1) is an ancient spring festival in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s an astronomical holiday. It’s one of the year’s four cross-quarter days – a day that falls midway between an equinox and solstice. May 1st is between the March equinox and June solstice. There are so many fun ways to celebrate May Day with kids. A few ideas include: planting flowers or a tree, make a maypole with colorful ribbons to dance around, make personal flower baskets filled with petals/flowers to gift, make flower crowns or leis, have a bonfire, have an outdoor picnic, read poetry about spring or go on a nature hike.

Feature image credit: @lizbinder

35. Observe a pollinator

Teach your kids about the importance of pollinators this spring. Give them the task of watching and observing the flowers and plants in your backyard for bees and butterflies a few separate times. Then, ask the following guiding questions: (1) What types of insects or other animals are visiting which flowers? (2) Are some flowers visited more often or only by certain creatures? (3) Is there more activity at certain times of the day? (4) What kinds of paths do the insects take as they move among flowers? (5) Which types hover and which perch? (6) How do the flowers they visit seem designed to support these habits? (7) Does a mixed planting draw more different kinds of pollinators?

Once you’ve compiled your answers, research the plants and flowers that pollinators like best and set up your own pollinator garden or feeding station in your yard.

36. Cut the grass

If you have a traditional lawn that you cut with a lawnmower, chances are that there are quite a few places along the edges (or close to fences or rocks) that your lawnmower doesn’t get. Instead of taking a weed wacker to those spots, give your child a pair of scissors and let her practice her fine motor skills of cutting! Kids love helping out the adults and they love being in charge of things that are usually off-limits. On grass mowing days, let your child have a pair of scissors and help trim those hard to mow spots! She’ll not only put her hands to work and develop fine motor skills but feel like she’s helping and contributing to the family.

Feature image credit: @sara_mccarty

37. Spring nature hike

Hiking in the spring is so much fun! Not only do you avoid the heat, humidly, crowds and pesky bugs of summer, but you get to experience life reemerging in the woods in the spring. In the spring, the green is just beginning to reappear and the wildlife is incredibly active, leading to all kinds of close encounters with deer, squirrels, rabbits and birds. The leafs on the trees aren’t thick, so you can see long distances and easily spot flowers and animals. Just be sure to wear boots in case the trail is muddy! If you need advice, we’ve got a great post on how to get started hiking with kids.

Photo credit: @juelz_jourdan

38. Decorate a flower pot

Decorating a flower pot is a super fun and easy outdoor springtime activity for the kids. Start with a plain old terra cotta pot and let your kids decorate it however they want! They can cover it in stickers, paint it, draw on it with paint pens, markers or chalk. They could decoupage it or wrap it with ribbon. Anything goes! Once it’s fully decorated and ready, add soil and a plant for instant decoration. Let them keep it in their room or gift it to a friend, teacher or neighbor.

39. Tulip/daffodil study

When I was a kid I was always fascinated by things and wanted to take them apart. Plants and flowers especially. I remember picking flowers and carefully pulling them apart, picking off the petals, opening them up and trying to figure them out. My kids also love doing this. When daffodils and tulips pop up every spring, the kids get super excited. I always let them pick a few to take apart and check out. I give them a butter knife and a pair of scissors and let them explore! We talk about the parts of the plant and what each part does. They learn a lot and then leave the flowers alone the rest of the season.

Feature image credit: @kalliastivaktaki

40. Make mud pies

As parents, we see mud and only see a mess. But to children, mud is an abundant and attractive medium for creation, exploration and adventure. Mud is fun! Playing with mud engages all the senses, encourages creativity and creates long-lasting childhood memories. The art of making mud pies can be as elaborate as you’d like to make it and will entertain your kids for hours. Initially, just use whatever you have on hand (pie tins, bowls, pans, plates, etc.) and decorate with whatever they can find (flowers, leaves, sticks, grass, shells, etc.). You’ll be amazed at your children’s creativity and improve skills in decorating their creations.

41. Save a turtle

If you spend any time driving on country roads, you know that spring is a popular time of year to see turtles crossing the road. Turtles are on the move once the weather gets warm—but sometimes, a road or a highway stands between them and their destination. Speeding traffic and slow-moving turtles don’t mix, and many turtles are severely injured or killed on roads every year. Even if their shells are crushed, turtles can remain alive for days or even weeks in agonizing pain because they have such slow metabolisms.

If you see a turtle on or near a road, take action! If you happen to see a turtle in need, park in a safe place, put your hazard lights on, and make sure that traffic is clear before venturing out onto the road. Pick them up by grasping them firmly by both sides of the body, in front of their hind legs. Be careful not to drop them! If it’s a snapping turtle, gently push them from behind to safety with a blunt object. Always keep them moving in the same direction that they were headed. Do not try to make them change course, as they have a destination in mind and will simply try to cross the road again if placed back where they started from. Once they’re safe on the other side, leave them alone.

Feature image credit: @gretchennevin

42. Outdoor swing

Setting up a swing in the yard is a guaranteed way to keep the kids outside and entertained. Our neighbors have a net swing in their front yard and every kid on our block has spent countless hours out there playing. From tweens to toddlers, the kids are just fascinated by the swing! It’s such a simple thing, and yet so popular! This swing supports a few kids together and they have the best time pushing each other and giggling on that swing.

43. Start a nature collection

If you haven’t already, spring is a great time to start a nature collection. All you need is a sense of adventure and a place to store/display your collection. Anytime you venture out and find a cool discovery, add it to your nature collection! My kids have a great collection of all the fun things we’ve found over the past few years, which include feathers, rocks, shells, fossils, bird eggs, antlers, empty nests, bones, teeth, empty turtle shells, snakeskins, arrowheads, 4-leaf clovers, etc. The small rocks and shells get stored in a large glass vase. The rest of the stuff goes on a dedicated bookshelf in our living room so they can see and touch their findings.

Feature image credit: @raisingwildones

44. Have a spring picnic

An outdoor picnic is a great way to spend time outside no matter what the season. Spring is a great time for a picnic though, as it’s usually not too hot, there are fewer bugs and everyone’s extra ready to spend time outside. You can pack a picnic lunch at home and take it to your favorite outdoor location. Or swing through a drive-through or get carryout from your favorite restaurant. Heck, you could even have pizza delivered to you at the picnic location of your choice! No matter how you slice it, a picnic is a great outdoor springtime activity for kids.

Photo credit: @jhennyloouuu

45. Make wind chimes

I just adore the sound of wind chimes blowing in the spring breeze. And they’re surprisingly easy to make! You can make wind chimes out of sticks, shells, old silverware, stones, glass or anything else you can think of! My kids and I made some beautiful wind chimes from all the treasures we found on the beach last year (shells, driftwood, chunks of sand dollars, etc.). It’s a visible (and audible) way to remember our trip.

Feature image credit: @sara_mccarty

46. Set up a slackline

Slacklining is a perfect way for kids of all ages to hone balancing skills while spending time outside, building core strength and confidence. Slacklining is one of my kids’ favorite backyard activities and I’m blown away by how much time they spend on it daily, balancing, bouncing and playing games. This is a great beginner slackline kit and we’ve got an awesome post on slacklining with kids.

47. Create a treasure hunt

A treasure hunt is a super fun and creative way to spend some quality time outside with the kids in the spring. Help your kids come up with their very own treasure hunt in your backyard, neighborhood or local park. They’ll need to choose their treasure, figure out how/where to hide it, come up with a map and any clues they want to give. This is a great way for them to work on orienteering and map skills (X marks the spot). They’ll have to think analytically about clues and observations. They’ll work on writing skills by coming up with clever and descriptive clues that rhyme.

Feature image credit: @skye_taten

48. Outdoor yoga

Yoga helps us be more present and mindful and practicing yoga with kids outdoors is an excellent way for them to connect to the natural world. Anyone can help children enjoy the benefits of yoga and mindfulness outdoors. Incorporating fun poses with storytelling and adventure, children practicing yoga outside use all their senses to establish a link with nature and enjoy feelings of peace and connectedness. See our full post on incorporating yoga into outdoor nature play for all the details.

49. Make nature confetti

Making nature confetti is super fun for kids to do any time of the year! All you need to do is gather a bunch of colorful leaves, flower petals, etc. and a few different shaped punchers. Gather your materials and head home and start punching away. This project engages gross motor skills (walking around our neighborhood), fine motor skills (paper punching), and eye-hand coordination. After a large amount of confetti is made, the most fun part of the craft is tossing it in the air!

50. Stick magic wand

Create a magic wand out of materials you have at home for a fun project you can take outdoors into nature. All you need is a stick and ribbon scraps cut into similar lengths. Choose all different colors, widths, and patterns and tie them onto the stick. If your kids are old enough, encourage them to do this themselves, while little ones may need your help. Beware: magical wands can turn you into anything! Some can even be used to grant wishes! You never know what powers your child’s wand will possess.

Feature image credit: @michelerenephotography

51. Dance in the rain

When it finally starts getting warm enough to go outside barefoot without freezing, I love letting the kids out to dance in the rain! Feeling the rain coming down and playing in the puddles without shoes is an amazing sensory experience for kids. They feel the rain with their entire body, they smell it and taste it! Give your kids the opportunity this spring to dance in the rain with wild abandon! It’ll be something they always remember and hopefully the beginning of a lifelong love and appreciation of the rain.

52. Spring nature journal

Spring is a great time to start (or continue) a nature journal. A nature journal is a special book where your kids can record all the interesting things they see, smell, hear, feel, eat and wonder about, through the year. You can color, draw or paint what you see in your journal. You could try collecting leaves or petals off the floor and taping them into your journal. Photos are a great option too. Take them and then use them as collage items in your journal. Try asking kids to record what the weather looks like or to stand still and see what they can smell, see and hear on your walks. For more tips, our creative team member Jemma of Thimble & Twig has a great post on how to get started nature journaling with kids.

53. Pay it forward

Give your kids one of the greatest gifts ever – the gift of giving back! Make sure to pay it forward this spring by doing small outdoor acts of kindness anytime you can. Whether that’s putting a quarter in a row of meters, mowing a neighbor’s grass, giving a bouquet of flowers to a friend or walking the dog for an elderly neighbor. Work with your kids to come up with a list of things you could do together to pay if forward this spring.

Feature image credit: @svet_sky_ya

54. Admire a blossoming tree

One of my favorite things about spring are all the amazing blooms from flowers, bushes and trees. Cherry Blossoms and Dogwood trees are high up there on my list of favorites. Cherry blossom season lasts for about a month every spring and is always weather dependent early March to early April is a good rule of thumb. Most trees bloom for one to two weeks. The further South, the earlier the trees bloom. This branch of trees is largely for looks as opposed to fruit production. Ornamental cherry trees do produce fruit closely related to edible cherries, these trees are usually grown for their beauty.

The dogwood is a majestic ornamental tree, which has over 50 species within the genus. These species vary wildly, from shrubs to deciduous temperate trees and evergreens. One of the most common species, and the one about which you’ve most likely heard, is the Flowering Dogwood (the state tree of Virginia), which has conspicuous white to light yellow flowers that offer magnificent blooms in spring. If you have the chance, I highly recommend you and the kids take a minute to admire a blossoming tree in your area!

Photo credit: @arevook

55. Listen for woodpeckers

The Pileated Woodpecker is one of the biggest, most striking forest birds on the continent. It’s nearly the size of a crow, black with bold white stripes down the neck and a flaming-red crest. When you’re outside with the kids this spring, take some time to look and listen for Pileated Woodpeckers whacking at dead trees and fallen logs in search of their main prey, carpenter ants, leaving unique rectangular holes in the wood. The nest holes these birds make offer crucial shelter to many species including swifts, owls, ducks, bats, and pine martens. Pileated Woodpeckers sometimes visit backyard bird feeders, especially for suet. If you have dead or dying trees or snags on your property, consider leaving them alone as they may attract Pileated Woodpeckers (as well as other woodpeckers, nuthatches, etc.) to forage, roost or even nest in them.

56. Celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22. This year, celebrate Earth Day by reducing, reusing and recycling!! We love to recycle everyday items and reuse it in nature crafts. Paper towel tubes are fantastic for sowing seeds in, making into telescopes or a ton of other stuff. For crafting, we also use cereal boxes and we can even reuse milk jugs as watering cans. Use your imagination and try to reuse 10 items this week. It’s easy if you try.

Feature image credit: @soulshinephotographer

57. Have a barefoot day

Give your kids’ feet a break and have a barefoot day! Did you know that children who go barefoot frequently have a heightened sense of their surroundings and avoid sharp objects? Plus, feet toughen up the more they go barefoot, leading to more natural protection. Walking outside barefoot is recommended by many pediatricians and podiatrists for children and adults. Letting kids go shoeless as often as possible does wonders for foot and brain development. It helps develop and maintain an appropriate range of motion in the joints and strength and stability within the muscles and ligaments of the feet.

Forcing children’s feet to conform to the shape of a shoe will most likely result in permanent detrimental changes to the shape or construction of the foot. Walking barefoot also helps brain development as children learn to balance and develop other sensory systems in the body. Shoes reduce the amount and quality of sensory information kids get about their environment and body. Feeling the earth beneath their feet allows them to develop their somatosensory, proprioceptive, and vestibular sensory systems in ways that are not possible with shoes on!

58. Mushroom hunt

In my neck of the woods (the Midwest), spring is famous for bringing with it a delicacy that you can’t grow or get any other time of year – morel mushrooms! This elusive mushroom is prized for it’s tastiness, and can only be wildcrafted as no one has figured out how to grow them (yet). They come up in spring to early summer, depending on where you live, and are fairly widespread. Foraging for morel mushrooms can be difficult, as they usually blend in very well with their surroundings. But, once you get an eye for them, they seem to pop up everywhere! They like south-facing hillsides, and will typically be in the sunniest patches, where the ground is warmest.

They generally grow around the drip line of trees. And while they seem to prefer certain varieties of trees (ash, aspen, sycamore, oak, elm), there are no hard and fast rules on this. Also, they like disturbed forests and burned areas. Morels are one of the easiest mushrooms to identify. They have a pitted and deeply ridged cap that resembles a honeycomb. The cap is also completely attached to the stalk, and they are completely hollow when cut in half. There are a few varieties of “false morels”, so if you’re unsure, cut one in half to make sure that the cap is completely attached to the stalk and that it is hollow.

Feature image credit: @sara_mccarty

59. 4-leaf clover hunt

Need a little extra luck in your life? Try finding a four-leaf clover! All you need is a patch of clover and a will to find one – no prepping or planning involved. Keep your eyes peeled for that extra lucky leaf. And if you find one, chances are another will be close by! Check out our post for tips and advice on how to find a four-leaf clover with kids.

60 .Give a plant

Plants are one of my all-time favorite gifts to give and receive! There’s just something so hopeful and loving about giving a plant. My kids and I usually start seeds in the spring and I set a few aside to give to friends and neighbors. Our massive sunflowers have become quite popular on our street, as we’ve given plants to so many neighbors. We also plant some of our own homemade seed bombs in small pots and gift them to friends and teachers. Small succulents also make great gifts for coworkers and kids, as they don’t usually need a lot of attention to thrive. Help your kids pick a few plants to gift to loved ones this spring and let them get their hands dirty helping plant them.

61. Spring cleaning day

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be the responsibility of the adults. Get the kids involved too with outdoor chores and projects for them. There are many outdoor chores that kids can help with, from toddlers to teens! A few of the chores my kids help with are: raking leaves out of the gardens, trimming hedges and branches, washing the outside of the house windows, spraying out the garage/driveway, pick up sticks, spray off the deck/patio, remove cobwebs, add mulch to flower beds and cleaning off toys and play equipment.

Feature image credit: @iammissymoore

62. Go for a bike ride

Biking with kids is a fun springtime adventure and a great way to get outdoors, explore new areas/trails, create family memories and get in shape. Riding a bike not only improves physical fitness, but it also benefits your child’s learning development and mental health. Plus, biking reduces carbon emissions, eases traffic congestion and eliminates parking problems. If you’re just getting started, we’ve got a great post with lots of tips for biking with kids.

63. Paint with mud

One of our favorite springtime outdoor activities is painting with mud. Mud is a wonderful medium for creating masterpieces, practicing writing letters or painting nature scenes. Sometimes we paint on poster board and sometimes we paint the sidewalk or even the fence in our backyard. Whether you use plain ole brown mud or get creative with color, your kids will love this new form of creating art! All you need is mud, powdered tempera (or liquid watercolor paint or food coloring), Dawn dish soap (optional), water, and some paintbrushes.

64. Set up a birdhouse

Many birds are facing habitat loss, which has driven some species away from former nesting areas. Help the birds in your neighborhood out by providing the right house to bring birds back home. We highly recommend doing a little research on the birds in your area and what kind of houses they prefer. Not all houses are equal and the ones that appeal to people might not be best for the birds. Find a house that is the right size, with the right size opening and place it in a safe place. If the hole is too big, it invites predators; rats and possums take the eggs. If the box is placed too low, snakes will get inside. Too big a hole also invites other (species of) birds to raid the nest. It’s a bird-eat-bird world out there!

Feature image credit: @sara_mccarty

65. Grow your socks

Want a super fun science project that teaches your kids and lets them get dirty? I’m sure you’ve all seen the project where you can grow a bean sprout in a plastic bag with a piece of cotton. Well, this is a fun new twist on that concept. Instead of growing seeds in a bag, grow your socks! All you need to do is let your kids run around outside with old wet socks on, getting as dirty and muddy as possible. This way they’ll collect the seeds directly from nature. When the socks are nice and filthy, take them off and place each one in a plastic bag. Tape the plastic bag to a window that gets a good amount of daily sunlight.

If the socks feel dry, add a small amount of water. Now all you have to do is wait for them to grow! See our post on how to grow your socks for all the details.

66. Play golf

Golf is such a fun outdoor activity for the entire family. My kids are really into golf these days and they can’t seem to get enough. We love going out and playing nine holes as a family at a public course. They love hitting the ball, but they also love driving around the golf cart. We also enjoy spending an hour hitting balls at the driving range. This is a great way to practice and get a lot of hits in! (less patience required) If you haven’t tried Top Golf, it’s also been a huge hit! There’s an extra element of challenge and competition, plus great food and drinks while you hit.

67. DIY butterfly wings

Looking for a really amazing and impressive (and yet not that hard) project to make with your kids? How about DIY butterfly wings that they can wear! This project is simpler than you might expect and guaranteed to make any little kid’s imagination go wild! They can be made from materials you probably already have in your craft closet and yard. For details on how to make these gorgeous wings, check out our friend Johanna’s post on woodlark.

Feature image credit: @soulshinephotographer

68. Go on a clean-up hike

We all know that we have to do our part to take care of the planet and it’s up to us to be good stewards of the environment and set an example for our kids. Next time you’re out exploring your favorite local trail (or even going for a walk around your neighborhood), take along a garbage bag and make an effort to clean up any trash or rubbish you find along the way. Chances are, you’ll be (unpleasantly) surprised at just how much trash has been discarded. Set a good example for your kids by cleaning up and explaining to them the importance of taking care of our surroundings and the environment.

Photo credit: @kidsdelmundo

69. Photo scavenger hunt

We love a good scavenger hunt! It’s one thing that we can do nearly anywhere and keeps the kids busy for a good long time. One of our favorite ways to get creative with this is to add a camera. I have an old point-and-shoot camera that I let the kids borrow and give them a list of things to find. You can choose to give them specific items (a flower, a pine cone, a fire hydrant) or be vague and let them get creative (something that smells, something prickly, something yellow). Instead of crossing the item off the list, they have to take a photo with/of it. They love being independent and responsible for the camera. I love seeing the funny photos and interesting items they choose to photograph.

Photo credit: @sage.and.summit

70. Visit a farmer’s market

In the spring, local farmer’s markets are teeming with really fun and interesting finds. Your local springtime farmer’s market harvest could include cherries, fiddlehead ferns, artichokes, dandelion greens, garlic, lemons, asparagus, beets, potatoes, mushrooms, and peas. Take your kids and introduce them to the vendors. Let them ask questions about where and how the food was grown. Let them taste free samples of fruits, veggies and baked goods. And then pick out a few items to take home for dinner! They’ll be more likely to eat the food if they had a say in choosing it. Here’s a great post all about exploring farmer’s markets with kids.

Feature image credit: @msmportraits_

71. Visit a botanical garden

Botanical gardens are some of the most magical, relaxing places and a great way to observe nature waking up in the spring. Strolling through the gardens, lounging in the great lawn, overlooking the lake and smelling the flowers might be the best way to decompress from the madness around you. Botanical gardens are also incredibly educational for children. There’s so much to learn about how plants thrive, why some plants change colors, what plants need, etc. Use an afternoon in the botanical garden to teach your kids about comparison (how plants are the same/different), observation (what does this plant look like) and appreciation (what can these plants do for us).

Photo credit: @blackadventurecrew

72. Run a 5K

If you want to add some extra outdoor exercise to your springtime activities, sign your family up for a 5K or family fun run! There are usually a variety of fun races in the spring (before it gets too hot) at various distances and with lots of fun themes for all ages. If you have little ones, let them try a 1-mile fun run. Sign the whole family up for a local 5K. Want a bigger challenge, what about a 10K or a half-marathon? With older kids, you could even do a relay. Most races usually have fun swag (t-shirts, etc.), prizes and a really fun ambiance. Not runners, sign your family up to volunteer at a water station to hand out water to runners. Who knows, maybe you’ll get inspired to join them next year!

Feature image credit: @sara_mccarty

73. Strawberry picking

One of my favorite outdoor activities to do in the spring with the kids is to pick strawberries. Every May (here in the Midwest), we visit a local orchard and gorge ourselves on those sweet juicy berries! It’s such a fun tradition and the kids are basically expert pickers by now. Make sure to wear plenty of sunscreen, as there’s little to no shade when picking strawberries. And boots, as it’s also usually pretty muddy! But freshly-picked strawberries right from the vine are worth it every time!

74. Play hopscotch

One of the most popular and easy outdoor games is hopscotch. Learning how to play Hopscotch is a great way for you to enjoy time outside this spring without having to go anywhere but your backyard. First, draw the grid you’ll be playing on. Usually, there are 8 blocks numbered 1 – 8. You can draw these sections in any way you choose.

For example, start with two next to each other, then one in the middle, then two again, etc. The player who goes first stands behind the starting block and throws his or her marker (a rock or coin) onto block 1. This player hops over square one to square two, pausing to pick up the marker and hop back to square one. Complete the grid by hopping down the rest of the blocks. The next turn, throw the marker in block 2 and continue the pattern. Remember to take turns! A player is out when he or she can’t throw the pebble in a square, when they lose balance, or when they touch the lines.

Feature image credit: @sara_mccarty

75. DIY seed bombs

One of our favorite springtime projects is to make DIY wildflower seed bombs. Not only are these DIY seed bombs easy enough for kids to make in under an hour, but they’re good for the birds, bees and butterflies in your area. They only require a few ingredients (seeds, water, dirt, clay) and have the added benefit of letting kids get their hands really messy! Make them and let your kids “bomb” the neighborhood or give them as homemade eco-friendly gifts to teachers, neighbors, family and friends. Everyone will love watching the bombs grow into a beautiful patch of colorful wildflowers. See our post for the recipe and all the details on how to make DIY wildflower seed bombs.

76. Visit a farm

This is a great time of year to visit a local farm, petting zoo, nature center or animal safari to learn more about the animals. We have quite a few farms in our area that give tours of the barnyard animals and let the kids interact with them (you can learn how to milk a cow, ride a horse and feed the chickens). We also have a wolf sanctuary and a drive-through elk park. And we have a bird rehabilitation center and a number of petting zoos. Chances are good that you have something like one (or more) of these in your area. Look at the local attractions in your area and ask your kids which animals they’d be most interested in learning more about.

77. Play catch

With opening day of baseball season right around the corner, spring is a great time to get outside and practice your pitch and catch skills. All you need is a ball and a glove! Throw the ball back and forth or around in a circle (if you have more than 2 players). Practice catching pop flies and bouncing grounders. This a great way to develop a skill and get some outdoor exercise and fresh air.

Feature image credit: @il_etait_un_clic_pro

78. Read outside

I’m of the opinion that almost everything is better when you’re outside and immersed in nature. That’s definitely true for one of my favorite past times…reading! If your kids are old enough to read on their own, create a comfy and shady spot for them to read outside. If your kids are little, try having storytime outside together and reading to them as they lounge on a blanket or in a hammock.

79. Raise butterflies

Watching a tiny caterpillar grow and then turn into a butterfly is truly one of the most spectacular miracles of nature. Give your children a chance to experience this incredible metamorphosis themselves by finding (or purchasing) caterpillars and watching them change. Make a habitat for your caterpillars where you can feed and observe them. Make sure it includes plants they like to eat and a place for them to cocoon. Watch the metamorphosis right in front of your eyes! Finally, releasing the butterflies into the wild is a memorable moment they won’t soon forget. See our post on raising butterflies from caterpillars for more info.

Feature image credit: @river.rascal

80. Climb a tree

Climbing trees is a great way for kids to experience “risky” play, with great rewards. One of my favorite writers, Linda McGurk wrote: “Tree climbing has real benefits for kids – physically, mentally, cognitively and socially. Just think about it. As your child scales the tree he’s building muscle strength, practicing gross motor skills such as balance and improving spatial awareness and proprioception. When he decides which branches are safe to stand on and how high to go, he’s learning how to judge risk and developing critical thinking skills.

As he plans his path up through the limbs, he’s gaining decision-making and problem-solving skills, and if things don’t go according to plan, he gains emotional strength and resilience by trying again. When he successfully negotiates the branches, he feels a sense of accomplishment, which in turn boosts his self-confidence.”

81. Attend a baseball game

Particularly if you’re in the US, nothing says summer quite like baseball season! If you can, attend a baseball game with your kids. Whether it’s a professional MLB game, a minor league team, a high school game or just a little league team at your local town’s baseball fields, watching a baseball game is a great way to spend a summer evening. Root root for the home team and enjoy those peanuts and cracker jacks!

82. Draw flowers/buds

Break out the watercolor paints or colored pencils and sketch those spring flowers. Spring is a great time to introduce art and drawing to your children. Get them a sketch pad and let them draw the spring flowers they find in your yard or local park. There are a ton of great books, journals, tutorials and online resources for teaching kids how to draw if your little ones want to get better. If you’re not much of an artist either, maybe you can learn along with the kids!

Feature image credit: @sara_mccarty

83. Release ladybugs

If you’re growing a garden this year, consider adding a few hundred/thousand friends to the party! Each spring we release 1,500 ladybugs into our garden and it’s such a fun experience. My kids love it and I’m hoping this is something you can experience with your kids, too. Ladybugs are wonderful for gardens because they’re capable of consuming up to 50 to 60 aphids per day! They will also eat a variety of other insects and larvae including scales, mealy bugs, moth eggs, leafhoppers, mites, asparagus beetle larvae, whitefly and various types of soft-bodied insects.

Releasing ladybugs into your garden is a really fun way to get kids interested in gardening and teach them about this amazing insect. We’ve got a great post filled with all kinds of fun ladybug facts for kids below, plus tips on how to gently and effectively release ladybugs into your garden and how to get started gardening with ladybugs.

84. Make fruit smoothies

There’s no better way to get your kids to eat healthy foods than by letting them be a part of the process. Kids can be involved in every step, growing their own food to harvesting/picking their own fruits and veggies and helping out in the kitchen. Even if you’re not growing your own food, let kids help pick out fruits and veggies from the grocery store or farmer’s market. Make fruit and veggie smoothies together with your selections. Kids love being involved and are much more likely to eat healthy if they’re part of the decision making process.

Feature image credit: @sara_mccarty

85. Make a stepping stone

Decorate your garden, lawn or walkway with beautiful concrete stepping stones that your kids made and decorated. All you need is a mold, some concrete mix and any decorations you want to use. Try colored stones, shells, glass or beads. Let them add their own items such as army men, marbles, trinkets, coins, etc. You could even buy a stepping stone mosaic kit with all this stuff included, just to make it easier on you. Add water to the concrete mix, pour in the mold and let the kids decorate. It takes a few days for the stones to completely dry and solidify, but you’ll have a forever keepsake of this season.

86. Host a field day

As the weather gets warmer, it’s time to get outside and active with the family. Do you remember how much you looked forward to field days when you were a kid, with three-legged races and egg-on-a-spoon competitions? If you have a big backyard or live near a public park or schoolyard, host your own field day for your family. Field days aren’t just for kids either—invite over the grandparents and cousins and ask other families in the neighborhood to join in on the fun.

Plan the games ahead of time and get everything set up before everyone arrives. Make games out of basic household items and add a few of those ‘Minute to Win It’-style games with things you find around the house. Mix it up so there’s something for everyone with scavenger hunts, races, art projects, sports, etc. Add some fun music and serve snacks and beverages for a great day of games!

87. Create a putt-putt course

You don’t have to hit the links when a golf course could be right in your own backyard. Using ordinary household objects to construct the course – like cereal boxes, cardboard tubes, and books – you can create this fun and challenging 9-hole miniature golf game the whole family will enjoy. Here’s a great post with all kinds of awesome ideas for creating your very own DIY putt-putt course in your backyard this spring.

Feature image credit: @paraphrasephoto

88. Make naturally dyed eggs

If you’d like to dye eggs with your kids this spring, but don’t want to use processed food dyes, try making your own dye from all-natural ingredients! Here’s a great post on how to use natural household ingredients to dye your eggs all kinds of beautiful colors. We walk you through our easy process using household ingredients from your backyard, fridge and pantry like blueberries (blue), beets (pink), turmeric (yellow), onions (orange) and cabbage (green/blue).

89. Look for frogspawn

Late spring is the perfect time to look for frogspawn and raise tadpoles. Check out your local pond and see if you can find some frogspawn to collect and bring home. You can place it in a tank of pond water at home with a few large stones in it. Over the next few weeks, watch as the frog spawn hatch into tadpoles and slowly change over the space of a few weeks into tiny little froglets. Once they are fully grown, be sure to release them back to the pond where they were collected. Check out our post all about raising tadpoles with kids.

90. Make a windsock

These tissue paper windsocks are a great way to add some color to your patio and let your kids decorate their environment in a fun way! Plus they are also an affordable craft that all your kids can enjoy as tissue paper can be found in several colors at your local dollar store. All you really need to make a tissue paper windsock is tissue paper, construction paper, glue, scissors, and yarn. Here’s a super cute tutorial on how to make a tissue paper windsock with your kids.

Feature image credit: @sara_mccarty

91. DIY bird feeder

Attract some local birds into your backyard by setting up a bird feeder. It’s easier than you think to make your own DIY bird feeders with your kids. We’ve got a great post on how to make easy bird feeders for kids with items and ingredients you already have at home and another post on ec0-friendly bird feeders to make with kids.

92. Fly a flag

June 14 is Flag Day in the US, which commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. Spend a little time with your kids this spring learning about flag day and the symbolism behind our flag. Celebrate by making some flag crafts and flying the stars and stripes.

93. Make a kaleidoscope

A kaleidoscope is a fun project to make with kids. You can either make it entirely on your own or start with a kit. We tried this Nature Kaleidoscope Kit which comes with everything you need to make the kaleidoscope, decorate it and experiment with it. The three mirrored pieces are sturdy and fit together easily. Just peel the plastic coating off (to prevent scratches) and use a piece of tape to keep them together in the triangle shape. Insert the eyepiece in one end of the tube, then the mirrors, and finally, add the plastic container with your nature objects at the other end.

The instructions were super easy to follow and my son assembled the whole thing by himself. This also got the kids thinking about which items they could find in nature or around the house to put in the kaleidoscope and had them guessing about whether the light would pass through them or not. Here’s our post all about how to make a nature kaleidoscope with kids.

Feature image credit: @kaseyfanucchi

94. Paint with rain

If you’re in need of a rainy day art project, this is for you! Get outside and make some April showers art by painting with the rain! All you need is some fairly thick paper, which can cope with getting wet, watercolor paints, paintbrushes, a few rocks to hold your paper in place and a rainy day. Start by painting an abstract design of your choice on your paper using your watercolor paints of a few different colors. You might like to place your paints very close together, or space them out – or try both and see what different effects you can create.

Be generous with your watercolor paints, and keep them liquid, adding plenty of water to blend the colors from your palette. While the paint is still wet, quickly take your paper outside. Use some rocks to hold the corners of your paper in place. Watch as the raindrops paint/change your picture, splattering your colors, making your paint spread and flow, perhaps blending one section of your art into another.

95. Seed sorting

When you’re discussing gardening with your kids this spring, add seed sorting project to your bucket list. All you need are a few different types of seeds and a few containers for holding them. Chose seeds that would likely be familiar to your kids (apple, pumpkin, corn, beans) and then throw in a few less recognizable ones for a challenge. Have your kids sort the seeds into containers using tweezers (to help develop those fine motor skills). While you’re at it, talk about the different kinds of seeds and how each plant grows. When you’re all finished, plant a few!

Feature image credit: @turtledove.a

96. Collect wild garlic

Wild garlic is a leafy green herb that emerges each spring from the forest floor, filling the entire area with a soft garlicky scent. The plant is composed of a tiny bulb that sprouts tender green leaves in early spring and then later on white flowers emerge. You can pick and eat both the leaves and flowers from plants you find growing in the wild but don’t dig up the plant or bulb up unless it’s growing on your own property. Collect the leaves and flowers of wild garlic to eat raw in salads or cook them down like spinach and make pesto. This is perfect for pasta dishes and it can be frozen in ice cube trays to use later in all sorts of meals. It has a subtle garlic flavor that is wonderful!

97. Hula hoop

Like jumping rope, hula hooping seems to be a lost art of childhood. Make sure your kids get the chance to experience the thrills and fun of a hula hoop. Watching kids learn how to hula hoop is absolutely adorable and worth the nominal price of a hoop. Play games, like who can keep it going the longest, who can make it go up and down their body or who can jump through it as it rolls down the sidewalk!

Feature image credit: @i_am_samhaines

98. Set up a hammock

Get your outdoor space ready for warm afternoons by setting up a hammock. Hammock naps are the perfect way to spend warm summer days. But until then, hammocks are also a great place to play, read a book, snuggle and spend time together. If it’s not warm yet, bring out a blanket and wrap up together in your hammock.

99. Insect hunt

There are so many interesting insects to find and learn about in the spring months. Take advantage of the warm weather by going on a bug hunt! See how many bugs you can find in your own backyard, local park or on a hike! Kids love finding crickets, caterpillars, ladybugs, grasshoppers, Junebugs, dragonflies, centipedes, butterflies and stinkbugs! If your kids are up for it, let them hold them and gently observe. Or take a photo of each or sketch them in your nature journal.

Feature image credit: @desireemacke

100. Sidewalk chalk games

There are so many fun ways to play with sidewalk chalk. We’ve already mentioned playing hopscotch, but there are plenty more! How about a game of four-square (do you remember that one)? What about hangman, tic-tac-toe or Dots. Make a bullseye and toss pebbles into the middle. If you’ve got a lot of kids in the neighborhood, make a friendship quilt by drawing a huge square and dividing it up into multiple smaller squares and letting each kid decorate their own patch. Draw the alphabet in big bubble letters and fill in each letter with words or pictures of things that start with that letter. Have your child lie down on the sidewalk and draw their chalk outline (like a crime scene) and then let them decorate their person.

Make an obstacle course or maze to walk or ride your bike on. There are so many fun ways to play with sidewalk chalk, which makes it a perfect outdoor springtime activity for kids. You can even make your own sidewalk chalk paint!

101. Sinks or floats

One of my kids’ favorite things to do is throw things in the water. They usually throw rocks, but they’re not opposed to tossing anything else in that they can find. When we’re out and exploring around water, we play the “sink or float?” game. Everyone finds a variety of objects to throw in the water and then we all guess whether they will sink or float. We’ve tried all kinds of things like sticks, seed pods, feathers, leaves, nuts, grass, pinecones, flower petals, etc.

Feature image credit: @christiebauerphotography

102. Watch a sunset

Spring is a wonderful time to curl up in a blanket and watch a sunset together. Since the days are just starting to get longer, sunset comes at a reasonable time for little ones to watch without staying up too late. Plus, the cool weather, the pops of green coming out of the trees and the smell of rain make it even more magical.

103. Outdoor family game night

Enjoy the cooler weather and create a family tradition of playing games outdoors in the fall! Whether it’s a traditional board game (like Monopoly or Life), a fun family card game (like Uno or Go Fish) or something a bit more interactive (charades or Pictionary), games are great outdoor activities. This is my personal favorite family game (and this i-spy game is my kids’ favorite).

104. Climb a wall

Climbing walls are all the rage at playgrounds and parks these days. Make a special visit to check one out this spring and let your kids attempt to conquer it. They’re super fun and exciting for kids and great for their full-body senses, balance, strength, and agility.

What’s your favorite outdoor spring activity for kids?
CRAFTS, HOLIDAYS, RECIPES
Easter Nature Crafts for Kids
- March 29, 2022
Spring is officially here! And what a better way to enjoy the fresh air, sunshine, and warmer temperatures that spring brings than by getting outside and collecting some nature treasures! What you do with your nature treasures is up to you, but we have some fun ideas! Today, Hannah Martin, UK mom and co-host of the YouTube show Hobie’s Nature Club is here with some fun and creative spring and Easter nature crafts for kids.

Incorporating nature into Easter crafts

I’m not sure what’s happening with the weather where you are, but here in the UK, we have seen blue skies and sunshine for the first time in what feels like forever! Flowers are in bloom; birds are busy making nests, which means only one thing… it is Spring and very nearly Easter. We love this time of year. There are so many activities to do outside with kids and everyone actually wants to be outside again.

We also love decorating our house at Easter. We love the nature-inspired reminders of new life through eggs and chicks, bunny rabbits, lambs (…but don’t forget the chocolate!). This year we decided to go all out with our Easter decorating in our favorite way – with nature! We decided to make a few fun Easter-themed nature crafts from materials we could find in nature. Not only does this mean we got to spend time outdoors in nature together, but we also got to have fun, get messy (and crafty) in the spirit of the holiday all in one go.

Easter nature crafts for kids

Below I’ve included a few ideas for some nature crafts to do with your kids. Each of these projects will be great for the upcoming holiday. Spread them out over the next couple weeks, as you won’t be able to do them all in one day. They are simple and fun for kids (and adults) of all ages. Most of the crafts use things found in nature, but obviously, you will need some other crafting bits, too. So, let’s get on with the fun part! Here are some entertaining ideas to brighten up your home and Easter table, with a few bonus yummy Easter treats mixed in, too!

Easter bunny nature picture card

This Easter craft activity is the simplest by far, but it’s so much fun! With this activity, you get to combine two favorite things – exploring outside and making a card for a family member or school friend. All you need is to do to collect your materials is to go outside and explore your garden or local park and find the following:
- 2 bunny ear-shaped leaves
- 1 bunny face-shaped leaf
- Twigs for whiskers
- Something pink for a bunny’s nose or you could paint a stone.
- Something white for bunny’s teeth, we used petals.
- Goggly eyes
- Lots of PVA glue
We learned from previous craft activities that when you are trying to stick shiny, waxy leaves onto paper you need lots of PVA glue! And you need patience because you need to wait a while for it to become tacky (you can speed up the process by using a hairdryer if needs be).

Cover your paper and the leaves in glue and then place the leaves onto the paper where you want them. You’ll need to hold onto the paper, we had to rub the leaves and weigh them down with a lid. Draw your mouth and stick on the teeth and nose and eyes. Then apply more glue for the sticks…we loved our end result, he makes us smile!

Nature-inspired Easter egg hunt

Everybody loves Easter egg hunts, right? Well, our version of an outdoor Easter egg hunt also incorporates nature. Instead of finding eggs, your kids will find fun things in nature that they can use to decorate a cardboard egg. This activity is great for big groups and kids of all ages. Small children can also get involved, which is great if you have toddlers and little ones. It will make a perfect Easter day activity as it can incorporate hiding chocolate eggs, too.

Here’s what you will need for your nature-inspired egg hunt:
- PVA glue
- Cardboard
- White paper
- Scissors
- Treasure hunt clues
- Collecting pot/bowl/bag
We started by cutting out an egg shape from the cardboard and white paper and then stuck them together. I then gave the children nature challenges such as going outside and finding:
- 10 stones
- 3 different things that are red
- 2 different shaped leaves etc
- 2 different colored flower petals
- evergreen needles
- 3 super tiny sticks
Every other turn, have the children run and find a chocolate egg! When you have completed the hunt you then use the nature treasures to decorate your eggs…and of course, eat the chocolate ones!

Egg-tastic mini herb garden

You will need:
- Egg box/carton
- Eggshells
- Herb Seeds (parsley, basil, chives, and watercress)
- Soil
- Scissors
Crack eggs with one large piece of shell and one small. Place the large piece in the egg box, fill it with soil. Next, insert the seeds following the instructions on each of the seed packets. Water the soil and leave your egg card herb garden in a bright, warm place for the seeds to germinate. If you want to transfer the plants into your garden later, you can easily place the whole thing (eggshell and all) directly in!

Pinecone spring chick

This fun craft is one that you can let your kids run with to make their own! There are no hard and fast rules – you can get as creative as you want! First, you will need to go on an adventure to a local woodland with evergreen and pine trees so that you can find some pinecones for this project. Next, you’ll need to gather the following craft supplies from your stash:
- Yellow paint mixed with PVA glue
- Orange foam or tissue paper for beak and feet
- Yellow feathers
- Goggly eyes
Let your child paint the pinecone with the yellow paint/glue mixture and then stick the feathers all over it. This is a fun (and messy) project, so we recommend doing this outside and using a washable paint (just in case). Next, cut a triangle from the orange foam or tissue paper as the beak and stick it onto the pinecone, along with the googly eyes. Ta da! You now have an adorable little pinecone chick!

Easter tree decorations

Since becoming a parent, I’ve started to enjoy festive decorations more for all our holidays. Holiday decorations are such a fun and easy way to get kids excited about the next holiday and show off their amazing creativity. They’re usually fun and colorful and bring me so much joy looking at them and remembering the memories of making the decorations together. And for Easter, there’s nothing better than a small blossoming branch as a centerpiece for your dining table. If you want to make your own Easter tree, here’s how!

You will need:
- Lots of eggs (white shell best, although they’re hard to find in the UK)
- Needle
- Cotton
- Paint
- Natural items
- Double-sided tape
- String/twine/raffia to hang the egg
The first step is to remove the inside of the egg from the shell by egg blowing! Have you ever done this? I remember egg blowing as a child (although I can’t remember why we were doing it), but this is obviously a fun memorable child activity. However, I will say that it is a lot harder than I remember!

To start, you have to carefully use a needle to make a hole at both ends of the egg. Rotating the needle is more effective for not cracking the egg. You want both holes to be small, but one should be big enough that the inside of the egg can pass through.

Next, in order to blow the “guts” of the egg out, you need to seal your mouth over the smaller hole and blow gently. It’s a good idea for the adult to start as after a few drops it gets easier. Once you hit the yolk you might have to take over again as it takes quite a lot of puff to break it down through the hole.

I have to be honest, I thought we were then going to thread the cotton through the egg to be able to hang it but every attempt resulted in a cracked egg! We ended up using double-sided tape and attaching the string or raffia to the egg and then painting over it. You can give it a try (hopefully you’ll have better luck than us) or just start with this little trick.

Next, let your kids paint the eggs, add stickers or glitter, or go into the garden and collect nature things to stick on them. While your little ones are searching for their nature decorations, you can find a pretty branch to cut and place in a vase with soil and top with small stones or wood chips. Once your eggs are dry, hang them from your Easter tree/branch and use this as a centerpiece for your Easter table or tabletop decoration!

Rocky-road chocolate bunnies

Now, this is our not-so-nature-loving activity! But, it is great for a rainy April shower kind of day. Plus, these are very yummy treats that your kids will love! The great thing is there is no need to measure or weigh. Just chuck all the ingredients in a bowl and mix.
- 2 large bars of milk chocolate
- 1 bag or bar of Malteser chocolate
- Mini marshmallows
- Mini chocolate eggs
- Rice krispies/corn flakes or crushed biscuits/cookies
- Optional healthy things like raisins, cherries, dried cranberries, or apricots
- M&Ms
- Sweetie laces for whiskers
- Silicon mold
Break your chocolate up and place it in a glass bowl. Heat gently and slowly in a double boiler over a pan of boiling water. Make sure to stir regularly with a wooden spoon. While the chocolate is melting, lay out your bunny features in the mold (rice crispies for eyes, m & m for nose, cut up sweetie laces for whiskers).

Once the chocolate has melted (be patient, this may take a while – don’t rush it), remove from heat and add your crispy bits, crushed mini eggs, marshmallows, and anything else you fancy and spoon into molds. This does need to be done quite quickly as the chocolate will start to solidify. We’ve had this cute silicone mold for years and never used it so this was a first for us! We were so excited to finally put it to good use.

Place mold into the fridge for 1-2 hours to solidify. Once the chocolate is solid, push your bunnies out of mold and EAT! Mmmmm!

Making this candy treat was so much fun! We had a blast and ended up with a LOT of candy. We’ll be giving these yummy treats as gifts to the family for Easter.

Spring crafts for kids

We hope you enjoy being creative with these spring and Easter nature crafts for kids. We hope this has inspired you to get outside and look for fun and useful nature treasures to use in your crafting projects. Spring is such a fun time of year to get outside and see nature coming to life around you. Now, go outside and play!

Are you incorporating nature into your spring decorations this year?

About the author

Hannah Martin has worked as a PE Teacher in the UK for 15 years. She has always loved being active outdoors. However, she discovered a new passion for nature and appreciating the environment when she had her son Hobie (now 5 years old). Hannah and Hobie’s vision is to inspire parents to spend time doing fun, creative, nature activities outdoors with their children; no matter where they live and whatever the weather. They believe spending time together outdoors as a family will encourage future generations to love and care for the world, wildlife, and environment.

Find more from Hannah (and Hobie) in the following locations:
Instagram: @hobies_nature_club
Website: hobiesnatureclub.co.uk
YouTube channel: Hobie’s Nature Club
RWMC Posts: Hannah Martin
FAVORITE GEAR, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR SCHOOLS
Demystifying Outdoor Schools: The Next Big Thing in Early Childhood Education
- March 22, 2022
Outdoor schools are gaining in popularity and sprouting up across the US and Canada. Now more than ever, parents realize the benefits and importance of their kids spending time outside, in the natural world, and learning through hands-on nature-based education. But, what exactly is an outdoor school, where do you find one, and what do kids need to wear to attend? We’ve got all the answers to these questions and more!

Getting acquainted with outdoor schools

Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Alyssa Marsh, one of the founders of the newly launched Outdoor School Shop (ODSS), on the Run Wild My Child Podcast. I got to pick her brain on all things outdoor school-related. Over the last few years, I’ve heard more and more about “outdoor schools” and outdoor education in general, but I did not know a lot about the whole outdoor school movement in elementary education. My kids attend a traditional school, and there are not a lot of outdoor schools around where we live.

However, outdoor schools are gaining in popularity and sprouting up across the US at an unprecedented level. Even before the pandemic, outdoor school numbers were increasing, but now more than ever, the benefits of spending the majority of school-time hours outdoors is readily apparent to parents.

Outdoor School Shop’s mission is to outfit (forgive the pun) families and outdoor schools with the right outerwear so that gear never becomes the reason a child is not happy and thriving at outdoor school. In addition to selling all things waterproof, warm, and durable, ODSS is a big proponent of educating everyone about the concept of outdoor schools, how they’re different, where to find one, and how to dress for attending one.

Since we’ve received so much positive feedback on the episode and lots of really great questions about outdoor schools, I’m here to share a little about what I learned while chatting with Alyssa on the podcast. I also encourage you all to listen in for all the details! You can access the podcast recording on Apple podcasts on our podcast webpage or whatever app you use to get your podcasts.

What are outdoor schools?

According to Alyssa at ODSS, outdoor schools fall into the following categories: forest schools, nature preschools, farm schools, Waldorf schools, select Montessori programs, and traditional schools, which have pivoted to outdoor education due to the pandemic.

Forest schools are the most intensively focused on outdoor time, with some programs conducting the entire school day outside no matter the weather. Nature preschools spend at least 30% of their day outdoors and infuse their curriculum with nature as the steady theme. Students at farm schools spend between 30 to 50% of their time outdoors and ground their learning around the farm’s ecosystem.

At Waldorf schools, the outdoor curriculum often includes forest and farm early childhood programs, school gardens and outdoor horticulture. Many Waldorf schools also have dedicated forest kindergartens. The amount of time spent outdoors at a Montessori school really depends on the school’s individual mission, so make sure you do your research if outdoor time and focus is important to your family.

Finally, there is a lot of movement in more traditional school programs to get outside, whether that’s a couple of hours a day or a more dedicated approach to outdoor education. It is worth taking a minute to investigate what options your local school district may be offering, and if there aren’t any, maybe you could get a conversation going?

Photo credit: @star_child_nature_school

The number of outdoor schools is growing!

The number of outdoor schools in North America has grown exponentially over the last couple of years. Prior to the pandemic, numbers of outdoor schools were on the rise, but the onset of COVID really pushed numbers to grow at an unprecedented rate. Not only were more outdoor schools being formed, but traditional schools and otherwise mostly indoor education started moving outside at a rapid pace. Exact stats are a little hard to come by, but according to folks at the North American Association for Environmental Education, the number of nature-based preschools grew at least 500 percent in the U.S. since 2012.

Photo credit: @wildwood.forestschool

Where to find an outdoor school near you

With the growing demand for kids to spend more time outside, outdoor schools are popping up in cities and towns across the US. It can be hard to find a great outdoor school in your area (as they usually don’t have a big budget for advertising), but ODSS is here to help. ODSS has built an online directory of outdoor schools in North America. This is the most comprehensive directory out there, with 1000+ schools and growing every day.

The outdoor school directory focuses on schools for toddlers to 12-year-olds. It also includes outdoor daycares for the littlest ones. Run Wild My Child is happy to co-host that very same directory on our website as well. To use the directory, just enter your zip code and select your town from the results in the drop-down. You will be provided access to all the schools within a 20-mile radius of your town.

I entered my zip code, and there was only one result, but I am hopeful lots of you are going to get much more impressive results! There are parts of North America that are far ahead of other areas in terms of outdoor school presence, but I’m hopeful that we will all catch up soon! This is a growing and exciting movement in education and one that we feel will greatly benefit our kids.

Benefits of outdoor schools and outdoor education

There are many compelling reasons for your child to attend outdoor school but let me walk you through the highlights. Children (all of us, really) need time to thoroughly explore our thoughts, feelings, and relationships. When they spend time outdoors, children are able to develop a deep understanding of their world, the environment, and everything in it. Through imagination and exploration, their world opens to endless possibilities. (Source: Magnolia Forest Preschool).

A growing amount of research and study on outdoor education for young children has become available over the last 30 years. It is well documented that children’s development can be enhanced greatly outdoors in a number of areas. The following are some of the top benefits that outdoor learning and outdoor activities, in general, provide for children (source: Upper Manhattan Forest Kids).
- leadership
- imagination and creative thinking skills
- motor skills and gross muscle development
- independence
- self-confidence and resiliency
- strengthened immune system
- increased spatial sense and awareness
- beneficial to children with attention/control issues
Want to read more about the benefits of outdoor school and infusing your child in nature? ODSS has a fantastic, curated “Book Nook” with lots of great titles – wonderful options for kids too!

Photo credit: @littlebugsnaturepreschool

What do kids wear to outdoor schools?

If you think that an outdoor school would be the perfect fit for your child, you are likely wondering what kids wear to outdoor schools. Outdoor School Shop has you covered on this front! They carry top-notch gear that comes highly recommended to ensure that your child is always comfortable, warm, and dry and able to focus on the experience and not the weather.

ODSS scoured the market, interviewed countless outdoor educators, and test-drove the gear on their own kids. They came up with a shop stocked with the best selection of outerwear for outdoor school students. However, when I say “best”, I do not mean the most expensive! That’s not always the case. “Best” means best-suited to the environmental demands that outdoor school will require from your child’s outerwear, depending on your location and the weather you experience there.

Best-suited is different for kids in different locations. Outdoor school students in Florida dress differently than those in Vermont. This is why ODSS created extremely handy gear checklists specific to each region of the country that addresses this question. The checklists are free and available on their website. ODSS has also worked hard at producing a super helpful primer on how to dress our children in layers for efficient body heat regulation.

Photo credit: @muddyrivernatureschool

Outdoor schools create future stewards of the natural world

At Run Wild My Child, we’re really excited about the possibilities that outdoor schools bring to families who want their children to be outdoors and experience the wonder and beauty of nature from an early age. We know first-hand the benefits of raising kids outside and the importance of spending time in nature. The hope is that this early exposure to forests, farms and other outdoor locations will create a bond between the child and the natural environment that will never be severed. Outdoor schools are helping create the future stewards of our world!

Photo credit: @forestfolkacademy

Have you ever considered an outdoor school for your child?
LESSONS, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, WATER
Skipping Stones with Kids: How to Skip Rocks and the Science Behind It
- February 1, 2022
Skipping stones is a super fun and easy outdoor activity for kids of all ages. It’s also a great way to begin teaching kids about physics and the science behind bouncing rocks on water! Today, Michelle Garrett, California mom and founder of Wonder Club Explorers is here with all the info you need to know to get started teaching your kids how to skip stones. She’s covering the basics from how to choose the perfect flat skipping rock, to the right technique for extra skips. So, the next time you head out to the lake, pond or creek, we hope you’ll give rock skipping a try!

Learning the art of stone skipping

When you approach a body of water, be it a stream, lake, pond, or ocean, what are you inclined to do:

A)    Walk, wade, or jump into the water
B)     Gaze at the water and think deep thoughts
C)     Pick up a stone and start skimming it across the water

While there is absolutely no wrong answer here, for many years I would have toggled between options A & B. Mainly that’s because as an adult, I didn’t know how to skip stones! I’m not sure how it happened, but I seemed to have missed that chapter of childhood. I hope I’m not the only adult in this pickle!

Fortunately, my husband quickly remedied the situation and became my rock skipping coach. He took it upon himself to teach me how to skip stones and the fun of this super simple outdoor activity. I was so excited to be a purveyor of this newfound talent that I couldn’t wait to teach my son how to do the same. Now that I find myself squarely in camp option C, I am happy to share with the Run Wild My Child community the physics and fun of skipping stones.

Teaching kids how to skip stones

Throwing rocks into the water and making a huge splash is fun for all kids. But, learning how to skip a rock is a childhood wonder! It seems like skipping rocks should be impossible! Rocks are heavy and they sink in water. Skimming stones across the surface of the water seems almost magical to a child and it’s a blast (for both the child and the adult) practicing and perfecting your technique.

Today, I’ll walk you through the basics of how to skip stones and how to teach your children to skip stones. We’ll go over how to choose the perfect skipping rock, the right throwing technique, and the physics behind how to make rocks bounce on water!

The history of skipping stones

The first written record of stone skipping dates back to 1583. Who knew that skipping stones has such a long history? Legend has it that an English King skipped sovereigns (a.k.a British coins) across the River Thames in London, England. And stone skipping appeared in the written works of Shakespeare and Homer.

Culturally speaking, stone skipping has its own unique word or term across different languages and cultures. In France, when one skips a stone, it’s referred to as ricochet. In Denmark, skipping stones is called snuffing. The Eskimos skip rocks on ice while Bedouins skip rocks across smooth sand. And, if you’re into pop culture, we even saw a character slide rocks across the ice in Game of Thrones!

Best stones for skippin’

When it comes to rocks and stones, no two skip alike. You’ll want to take a few minutes doing some rock-onnaissance (you know, looking for the types of stones most conducive to skipping) in order to find the perfect skipping stone. Because throwing the stone is only half the battle, you also need to carefully choose the right rock for skipping.

Flattish stones that aren’t perfectly shaped, but have a uniform thickness and a little heft seem to work best. Helf is important because the rock needs weight in order to be thrown well. Imagine you’d have a hard time skipping a cracker or a paperweight across the water. The uniform thickness means that the weight is equally distributed and the rock won’t flip end over end when thrown. And the stone’s flatness maximizes its lift and provides a landing/bouncing surface.

Find flat water

The best places to skip stones are bodies of water that have a nice wide flat surface. Lakes and ponds are ideal. Rivers and streams can work, but you need a stretch of open water and few obstacles. Ocean and swift-moving rivers are tough due to the waves and uneven surface of the water. When you’re practicing your stone skimming, you’ll want to look for the best option and a place with lots of available rocks!

The best stone skipping technique: it’s all in the wrist

Once you’ve selected a nice flat stone, the next step is mastering how to hold it. You’ll want to set the rock in the crook of your pointed finger and thumb. Then, curl your other fingers beneath it. Holding a rock in this fashion helps to set it up for a fast spin, which is needed to skip along the water’s surface.

Next, you’ll want to stand up straight, feet parallel to the water, with your wrist cocked high above your shoulder. From there, throw the stone down and release the stone at your side, as parallel to the water as possible. A good throw is all in the wrist. It’s important to throw the stone from the side angle (much like a baseball pitcher might throw a curveball) because an overhand or overhand throw will only sink your stone, not skip it.

The physics of skipping stones

Skipping stones is a super fun way to pass time in nature. It is also an excellent way to scratch the surface of subjects like science and physics with kids.  The physics behind successful stone skipping is pretty simple.

There are two key forces at work when skipping rocks: (1) gravity (which pulls the rock down) and (2) lift (which pushes the stone up). For successful stone skipping, the lift force needs to be greater or the stone will sink. For this to happen, attention to the type of rock and the thrower’s form is important.

When a rock is thrown with enough force (velocity) and spin at the right angle, it creates a small wave of air. That wave pushes the stone as it hits the surface of the water. When the velocity of the stone is greater than the lift force of the wave, the rock will continue to rise up and skip off the surface of the water again and again until maxed out and then the rock will sink.

The gyroscopic effect (spinning) stabilizes the stone as it bounces along the water. As long as it is spinning fast enough, the spinning will prevent it from tipping over and/or sinking into the water. This is similar to a spinning top – it has to be spinning fast enough to stay upright.

To read more about the science behind skipping stones, Surfer Today has an excellent article about the fluid dynamics and physics behind this fun activity.

Stone skipping trivia for kids

In case you ever find yourself as a contestant on Jeopardy or simply want to impress the family with a few fun factoids, here are a few stone skipping trivia gems for you:
- The magic angle between a skipping stone and water is 20 degrees.
- The distance between stone skips is usually 80% of the previous skip.
- The world record number of skips is currently 88 consecutive skips, set by Kurt Steiner! Here’s a video documenting that world record.
- A right-handed throw will result in skips that eventually veer to the right.
Earn a Nature Explorer patch for skipping stones

Being out and about in nature is just one of the many joys we should all be so lucky to experience. That’s one of the reasons that the Nature Explorer Patch is one of the first 18 patches to be released as part of the Wonder Club Explorers program. Wonder Club Explorers is an independent scouting program for kids. Through Wonder Club Explorers, kids earn colorful patches doing age-appropriate activities with parents and caregivers. And, yep, skipping stones can constitute being a Nature Explorer! Stone skipping with kids is a great way to get outside and learn about nature and science. Your child’s first Nature Explorer patch is only a stone skip away!

Stone skipping fun for kids

The next time you find yourself next to a body of water feel confident knowing you have all the insider tips, tricks, and trivia to make you a confident stone thrower. Stone skipping with kids can be a lot of fun, gets you outside and active, and is completely free! You can turn skipping stones into a healthy competition or a fun game. In our family, we have yet to make it into the Guinness Book of World Record or get invited to the world championships, but my son skipped a stone FOUR times on our last outing. He is stoked!

We can’t wait to venture out again and find ourselves a stream, pond, or calm ocean in which to toss a stone. Have fun and remember to tag #runwildmychild and #wonderclubexplorers on your next outdoor adventure. Until next time!

About the author

Michelle spends her days working on projects to improve the quality of life for the citizens of her community and her nights reading books to her 6-year-old about every kind of dinosaur there ever was (there are 900 validated species, in case you’re wondering). Together with her son, Michelle created Wonder Club Explorers, a company to inspire wonder and curiosity in kids. She carves out time for herself on the weekends as an early morning exerciser and metalsmith of fine jewelry. Michelle is also the co-host of the Run Wild My Child podcast. She resides in Altadena with her husband and son amongst California Oak trees and a stone’s throw of the San Gabriel Mountains.

You can find Michelle online in the following locations:
Instagram: @wonderclubexplorers
Website: http://www.wonderclubexplorers.co
RWMC posts: Michelle Garrett
CRAFTS, HIKE, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, OUTDOOR SCHOOLS
Making Hiking Sticks with Kids
- January 21, 2022
Are you looking for a fun and easy project that will make hiking more exciting for you and your kids? We’ve got the answer! Today, Lissy Perna, Cape Cod mom of 2 and hiking guru is here sharing her step-by-step tutorial on making hiking sticks with kids. This project is fun for kids of all ages and (for the most part) can be done completely for free with items you already have at home in your craft supplies. These fun and colorfully decorated hiking sticks will let your kids get creative and help get them excited to hit the trail.

An art project that promotes outdoor activity

Have you ever wanted to complete a practical, yet creative art project with your children that you can use outdoors? Wouldn’t it be great if your crafts actually inspired your kids to be active and get outside? Ever wish there was a way to kids your kids more excited about hiking?

Well, making and decorating a hiking stick with your kids might be the perfect project for you! Making a hiking stick with kids is a fun and easy activity that will not only get their creative juices flowing, but it will also get them excited about their next hike. You can make this art project as simple or intricate as you’d like. Also, completing this project that is beautiful and serves a purpose is creating functional art!

Why walk with a hiking stick?

When walking on an uneven surface, a hiking stick can provide support and help you keep your balance. For example, while walking uphill, a hiking stick can dig into the ground to use as an aid to pull yourself up. Conversely, hiking stics can be used as anchors to give yourself something to steady yourself when walking downhill. They are even proven to improve posture when walking on a flat surface.

Need more reasons to use a hiking stick? Hiking sticks can also be used to brush spiderwebs out of your path, check the depth of a puddle in your way, or push thorn bushes aside. They’re really practical and handy to have when you’re out on the trail. These tools aren’t just for adults either, hiking sticks are for kids, too!

Making hiking sticks appealing to kids

While the logical reasons behind using a hiking stick make it worth your while when hiking, a child might still not be interested in carrying one. My kids love finding hiking sticks, but they don’t necessarily need or use them much.

However, kids are involved in creating their own decorated hiking stick, they might be more interested in using it, as well as being proud of their accomplishment. Once they start carrying a hiking stick around, they may find other fun uses for one. My boys like to use their hiking sticks for walking but also to draw in the dirt, poke at rotting wood or mushrooms, or have the occasional sword fight. They have even been known to use discarded buoys found on the beaches as hiking sticks!

List of items need to make a decorated hiking stick with your kids

The good news is that you really don’t need anything above and beyond to decorate your hiking stick. Other than the stick itself, there’s no need to buy or order anything special. Art and craft supplies you already have at home will do just fine. Here’s a list of art and craft supplies you could use:
- Carving knife, curved draw, or an ax
- Electric sander or sandpaper, both will work
- Varnish (optional)
- Acrylic paint (this paint worked wonderfully on the wood, I highly recommend it!)
- Paintbrushes
- Drop cloth
- Masking tape or washi tape (optional)
- Power drill
- Paracord, leather strips, or twine for handle loop
- Yarn for journey stick (directions included in this article)
- Scissors
Locating a hiking stick with your kids

Finding the perfect hiking stick to use can be as easy as looking along a trail or in your yard (if you’re lucky enough to live near the woods). We found branches in the woods near our house to use for our hiking sticks. It took a while to find ones that were not wholly decaying, but we didn’t want to cut down any live trees for this project.

Fresher wood is better for making a hiking stick because it’s less likely to be dried out and brittle. Keep that in mind during your hiking stick search. Just be sure to inspect the sticks you’re finding on the ground for any insect activity (as you probably wouldn’t want to bring these into your home) or decay (mold/fungi growth).

How to find the perfect hiking stick

When searching for a sturdy hiking stick, the essential qualities you are looking for are: (1) hard sturdy wood, and (2) a generally straight stick. The types of hardwood trees are maple, ash, cedar, beech, cherry, aspen, and others. But, use what you can find. We used some oak branches because the woods around our home are mainly pine and oak.

Also, you want the hiking stick to be about one to two inches in diameter and at a comfortable height for walking. Of course, everyone’s preference is different, but generally, an adult’s hiking stick can be about 55-65″ in length, and children’s can be shorter. Typically, you want a hiking stick to come up about three inches or so below your underarm. If you find a straight hard wood stick that’s longer, you can always cut it down. A hiking stick that’s too short, won’t be as helpful or useful.

How to prepare a hiking stick

Once you find the chosen stick that you’d like to work with, there are a series of steps to follow to make it suitable to decorate and hike with. Here are the steps we took to prepare our hiking sticks.

1. Remove the bark

First, you will want to whittle or carve off the bark of the stick. This will help keep you from getting splinters and make the stick easier to grip and decorate. You can remove the bark with a knife, a curved draw, or even an ax. However, if you want a rustic-looking hiking stick with more of a natural feel, you can keep the bark on. It’s really up to your preferences!

Some types of hardwood have two layers of bark and need to be scraped down twice. This can be a lot of work, don’t get discouraged! Older kids can help with this process with adult supervision and guidance. Remind them to always carve away from your body and not to try to go too fast.

2. Let your hiking stick air dry

Before applying any paint or varnish to your hiking stick, you want to make sure it is completely dry. We made the mistake of leaving our hiking sticks in the trunk of my SUV to dry, and then our dog, Jetty, found them and decided to use them as chew toys! Needless to say, they were a bit wet and slobbery (and in pieces) when we were ready for them.

So, I’d recommend putting them in a safe place, out of reach from any pets who enjoy a nice stick as a snack. Depending on the climate and time of year, the drying process may take up to a couple of weeks.

How to prepare your hiking stick for painting

Once your hiking stick is nice and dry, you’ll want to get it ready for painting and decorating. Use sandpaper to smooth out any inconsistencies, knots, or raw parts of the hiking stick. We started with an electric sander, but the hand-held sandpaper seemed to work better (although it took longer). Once you’ve entirely sanded your hiking stick, wipe it off with a damp rag to remove any sawdust.

If you’d like to add a handle loop to the top of your hiking stick, now would be a great time to add a hole at the top of your stick. We made a hole with a power drill and a small bit. You can make a wrist loop with a variety of materials, including leather, paracord, ribbon, rope, string, or twine. (I will add more information on making these handle wrist loops later in the article.)

How to paint your hiking stick

Set up your supplies for painting your hiking stick in a well-ventilated area. If possible, paint it outdoors! Get all your materials set out and ready. Gloves and a mask are a good idea, as well as a drop cloth or old sheet to prevent paint splatter on furniture or floors.

If you are choosing to varnish your hiking stick, follow the instructions on the product of your choosing. This technique will create a simple look that will let the natural wood grain shine through.

If you choose to go for a more colorful look, as we did, you may want to start by giving your hiking stick a base coat of white paint. The white basecoat allows the bright colors to show up more vividly. For extra vivid colors, you may want to do a few coats of paint so that they really pop!

How to decorate a hiking stick with paint

There are no rules when using paint to decorate your hiking sticks with kids! Let them be the creative director and see what they dream up. My youngest wanted to make a rainbow with every color possible, and my oldest wanted to make a ringed pattern. Both of their projects came out so great and matched their personalities too!

I asked if they wanted to use masking tape to create “negative space” on their sticks as I did with mine, but they both declined. Masking tape and washi tape are helpful with this technique to make clean lines.

Other creative ways to decorate a hiking stick with paint are: polka dots, rainbow patterns, alternating colors, repeating patterns of large and small stripes, swirls or other textures, etc.

How to make a wrist loop for your hiking stick

So, why do you need a wrist loop for your hiking stick in the first place? Well, it’s really for safety reasons. If you happen to drop your stick while walking, it will be wrapped around your wrist and won’t go tumbling down the mountain. But, it is also helpful for storage! You can hang your stick by its loop when you’re not using it. It also just looks nice to have some extra color and decoration.

Choosing what material to use for your wrist trap is up to you. My favorite thing to use is whatever you have on hand! Again, no need to buy anything new. If you happen to have some rope – that works! If you have some paracord, that’s great! Being conscious about commercial consumption and using materials on hand is always the best option, in my opinion.

Braided hiking stick wrist loop

Plait a simple braid together with three pieces of whatever material you choose and then string it through the hole you made at the top of your hiking stick. But, first, make sure the loop fits comfortably around your wrist.

We used paracord, which is easy to manipulate, strong, and comes in various colors. If you choose paracord, make sure to melt the ends that you cut, so it doesn’t fray. Melting the material is easy to do with a lighter or match. Using a flame is a job for an adult or a supervised older child.

How to create journey sticks

While researching making hiking sticks with kids, I found an enjoyable activity to do with your completed hiking stick. The concept of a Journey Stick originated in Australia with the Aboriginal people. When they went on an expedition, they would attach objects from their trip to a wooden shaft in chronological order as reminders of their travels. They would then use these items to tell stories about their voyages when they returned home.

The journey sticks were visual representations of the story of the journey. Storytelling is an important skill for kids to learn. We as humans are more likely to attach importance to a story when we see ourselves as a part of it. When children are asked to recount the story of their adventures and explorations, they become active learners, leaders, and caretakers of their environment.

Creating journey sticks with kids

You can use your decorated hiking stick (or any hiking sticks) to create a journey stick with your kids. We took a simple wooden hiking stick out on a local trail through the woods to use as our journey stick. We brought scissors and yarn with us and I explained that we could pick up anything we wanted to tie to our stick in order to tell the story of our hike.

My youngest required help with the tying, but he chose each of his treasures by himself. Picking out items to attach to his stick made him slow down and pay attention to his surroundings; it was beautiful! He ended up choosing pine needles, a leaf that “looked like an owl,” a piece of a fir tree, a pine cone, holly leaves, lichen, phragmites, and sea myrtle. When we returned home and looked at his journey stick, I was so surprised that he could remember exactly where he found each unique token and recount the story of our hike.

Try this on a hike with your kids and see what they find! For more info, we have a great post on making journey sticks with kids.

Fun facts about hiking sticks:

After investigating all about hiking sticks and how to make them with your kids, I found some pretty fascinating factoids I thought I should share:
1. Someone who collects walking sticks is called a rabologist. (I can see adding this name to my resume!)
2. Hiking sticks are not only used for support but also for self-defense or as a fashion accessory.
3. Henry VIII was once arrested for beating a constable with his walking stick!
4. The Smithsonian has a cane with a golden handle given to President George Washington by Benjamin Franklin.
5. Tutankhamun was discovered with 130 walking sticks buried in his tomb, as he had a clubbed foot.
6. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy estimates that 90% of through-hikers use hiking sticks or poles on the Appalachian Trail.
If you don’t have time to DIY a hiking stick

If you’d still like to get the benefits of using a hiking stick but don’t have the time or the resources to find or make your own, there are premade ones that are acceptable alternatives. Also, many people choose to use two hiking poles rather than one hiking stick. The aluminum construction allows them to be very lightweight. I’ve included options below for both poles and sticks, and there are some great options online.

The best hiking sticks for kids:
- These aluminum hiking poles are collapsable and lightweight.
- These REI brand kids hiking poles are aluminum with plastic grips.
- These customizable kid-sized hiking sticks are made from birch and are sold on Etsy.
The best hiking sticks for adults:
- These REI brand adult-sized hiking poles are made from aluminum with cork handle grips.
- These foldable adult-sized hiking poles are lightweight and have tungsten carbide tips.
- This wooden custom-made hiking stick from Etsy comes with an interchangeable tip, an alpine tip for trail walking, and a rubber bottom for paved surfaces.
Children’s hiking book recommendations

After decorating your hiking sticks with your kids, read these wonderful children’s books all about hiking and exploring nature!
- Mrs. Peanuckles Hiking Alphabet, by Mrs. Peanuckle
- Let’s Go on a Hike, by Katrina Lu
- Hiking Day, by Anne Rockwell
- Hike, by Pete Oswald
- The Hike, by Alison Farell
- Spring Hike, by Dineo Dowd
More resources about hiking with kids

If you’re interested in more great content about hiking with kids, be sure to check out the following posts:
Are you ready to make a hiking stick with your kids?

About the author

Lissy lives near the ocean on Cape Cod, Massachusetts with her husband, 2 rambunctious boys (aged 4 & 7), and an ever-growing number of pets. She grew up walking nature trails and finding joy in the beauty of nature. She now shares that love for local adventures with her community through her blog, “Get Outside Cape Cod”. Lissy knows that everyone can benefit from spending more time outdoors, and wants to inspire and support families to do just that!

You can find more from Lissy in the following online locations:
Instagram: @getoutsidecapecod
Website: Get Outside Cape Cod
Facebook: @getoutsidecapecod
RWMC Posts: Lissy Perna
CRAFTS, HOLIDAYS, NATURE SCHOOL, WINTER
Make Your Own Snow: 3 Simple DIY Snow Recipes for Kids
- January 6, 2022
Are your kids fascinated by snow? Want a fun way to play with snow inside, without needing to wrestle your kids into their winter gear? We have a fun sensory project for you! Today, Texas homeschooling mom of two, Lauren Cain is here sharing three DIY snow recipes for making your own sensory winter bin. All these variations are made with simple ingredients you probably already have at home. Let it snow!

Kids are fascinated with snow

Growing up in Southern California, I was always fascinated with snow. But, unless we made a trip to the mountains, we didn’t have very many opportunities to play with snow. My children (being raised in Texas) are a lot like I was as a child. They love the snow, and apart from the rare snowstorm we experienced last year, they don’t have a lot of experience playing with real snow. We do, however, enjoy making and playing with our own snow! Making your own snow is very simple, and it is an amazing sensory activity for all ages. Today, I’ll show you how to make your own DIY snow and why sensory activities like this are so beneficial for kids.

Why are sensory activities so beneficial?

Making your own snow is an awesome sensory activity for your child. Sensory activities are enjoyable for children, and more importantly, are incredibly beneficial to their cognitive development. They aid in the development of motor skills, problem-solving, and creativity. During sensory play, a child can describe what they are touching, tasting, hearing, seeing, smelling, or experiencing through their body sensations, which helps with language development. Movements involved in sensory play (squeezing, pinching, sorting, placing, and scooping) help improve fine motor skills and increase coordination.

These activities also give children the opportunity to learn through exploration and play, which is amazing for young children and early learners. Adding sensory elements into teaching can spark an interest in learning. Sensory play is engaging and fun because it is an unstructured form of play in which there are no real limits or rules. Children who learn through play get more enjoyment out of it and thus, want to do more of it.

Let it “fake” snow!

The thing that I love so much about this DIY snow recipe is that it could not any simpler. There is no need to run from store to store to find random ingredients – everything you need to make snow is probably already in your home! Each of our DIY snow recipes listed below only needs TWO ingredients. That’s it! So, are you ready to let it snow!

Three DIY snow recipes for kids

There are three different ways you can make DIY snow at home for your kids. Each of these recipes only requires two ingredients that can be found in your home. Each snow recipe makes a slightly different type of snow. Depending on what you want to use the snow for, you can pick the one that works best for your purposes or make it extra fun and try out all three!

1. Baking soda moldable snow recipe

Ingredients:
- 3 cups baking soda
- 1/2- 1 cup hair conditioner
Instructions for baking soda moldable snow

Our favorite DIY snow recipe is the baking soda moldable snow recipe. Grab a mixing bowl and pour in your baking soda. After you have poured your baking soda into the bowl, add in your conditioner (shampoo may also work).

Start with a 1/2 cup of shampoo or conditioner and add more if needed until you get your desired consistency. I tend to add more shampoo or conditioner because I feel like the snow can be molded easier. I usually use conditioner, but this time I used shampoo and did not notice a real difference. So, you can use whichever you have on hand. Both the shampoo and baking soda were purchased at Dollar Tree.

This keeps surprisingly well, even uncovered. However, for a longer play, I would recommend storing it in an airtight container or sealed bag. If you do keep it uncovered, you will need to add more water or shampoo after a day or so to make it moldable again. We’ve kept the “snow” out uncovered for a couple of days and it still had the same consistency.

2. Powder snow recipe

Ingredients:
- 3 cups baking soda
- 1 cup water
Instructions for powder snow

If you are uncomfortable using shampoo or conditioner, I would suggest giving this powder snow recipe a try. Grab your mixing bowl and pour in the baking soda. After you have poured in the baking soda, add your water about a tablespoon at a time until you achieve your desired consistency. This “snow” will not be moldable, but it is still great for sensory bins and can even be used for other fun sensory activities.

3. Shaving cream moldable snow recipe

Ingredients:
- 1 cup shaving cream*
- 1 cup corn starch
Instructions for shaving cream moldable snow

Grab a mixing bowl and pour in your corn starch. After you have poured your corn starch into the bowl, add in your shaving cream. Start with a 1/2 cup of shaving cream and add more if needed until you get your desired consistency.

*A note about using shaving cream. While this is another simple way to make snow, this honestly wasn’t our favorite due to the smell. I had the hardest time getting a hold of unscented shaving cream. The smell of the typical shaving cream can be a bit overpowering, especially if you are not used to strong scents. After we made our snow using the shaving cream, the scent lingered around the room for days. The texture of the snow, however, was great and it was very moldable.

Ideas for playing with DIY snow

You can let your children play with the snow as is, or you can create your very own Winter Wonderland for them to enjoy. I tend to land on the “Pinterest Mom” side and decided to create a Winter scene sensory bin for my kids using the snow we made. The powder DIY snow recipe is the best option for this type of sensory play.

Aside from the bin itself, the materials and toys used to create our snow sensory bin were all purchased at Dollar Tree. Because it is Christmas time, there were a lot of items from which to choose. The bin was purchased long ago at IKEA. I reuse this bin a lot for various sensory activities throughout the year.

If you are creating a snow sensory bin for babies or children under 3, I would highly suggest skipping the small toys that we used. Instead, you can add objects like large plastic ornament balls, or simply let them play with the snow with nothing added.

Embrace the mess

So often, parents are leery of having their children play with sensory bins or do sensory activities inside the home because they are MESSY! I completely understand. However, as long as you are prepared, messy play can be great for kids and actually adds to the sensory experience.

This is not a nice and neat activity. But, it is one that I 100% recommend. My sensory-seeking 5-year-old was fully engaged and playing with our DIY snow for close to an hour. He was totally focused. I witnessed him experimenting with building, role-playing with the character toys, and observing the differences in texture.

While the “snow” did not all stay inside of the bin, the learning through exploration that I saw made it all worth it. Plus, after he was finished he requested to use the vacuum to clean up the mess. So, that’s a double win in my book!

If you are still unconvinced about allowing messy play inside, I would advise using a large towel, sheet, or splat mat underneath the bin for easier cleanup. This is also a great activity that can be done outside because even on the hottest day this is snow that will not melt.

Winter sensory play for kids

Creating a “snow” sensory activity for your child can be great fun! We hope these simple DIY snow recipes lead to hours and hours of fun sensory play for your kids this winter. Sensory activities are an incredible way for children to engage all of their senses. Did you know that engaging most, if not all, of the senses actually aids in the creation of neural pathways in the brain? Something as simple as playing with fake snow can be so beneficial.

Which snow recipe will you make for your kids?

About the author

Lauren is a California native turned Texan, who loves to get out in nature and discover hidden gems all around the Dallas/Fort Worth area. She is a wife and homeschooling mama to three kids who definitely keep her on her toes. She truly believes in the value of homeschooling and that there are learning opportunities available all around us. In addition to homeschooling, Lauren is also an entrepreneur; she’s the co-owner of Crunchy Boutique (a natural-living/eco-friendly boutique).

You can find more from Lauren in the following places:
Instagram: @crunchymamadfw
Facebook: @crunchymamadfw
RWMC Posts: Lauren Cain
CRAFTS, HOLIDAYS, WINTER
Holiday Candle Making with Kids
- December 23, 2021
As December peaks, we’re getting closer and closer to the holidays. If you’re looking for a fun, easy to make, nature-inspired gift idea, we have a great one! Today, Creative Team member Tine Voeten, Belgian mom of two, shares one of her family’s favorite holiday traditions – candle making! She’ll walk us through the process of how to make your own holiday candle with kids to light up your home or give out as gifts. Making your own candles is a great way to recycle old candle remains, add some life to old containers, and make your home feel cozy for the holidays. We hope this post inspires you to give candle making with kids a try!

Candle making with kids

The holidays with kids are pure magic! Being together, creating a cozy little place for our family, taking time off from work, and most of all, no stress! Ha! Not quite. When you realize you are late on buying Christmas gifts for your family, or forgot a few people on your list, there’s no need to worry. Today, I am going to show you the secret gift that will fit perfectly in the cozy ambiance of the holidays and makes everyone shine!

Candles made by the little hands of your children are the perfect gift for everyone on your list. No doubt that grandma and granddad or your kids’ godparents will be charmed by this thoughtful and original present. Plus, holiday candle-making with kids is the perfect activity to keep your little ones busy on a cold and wet winter day!

The magic of candles

The holidays without candles don’t really feel the same, don’t you think? The jumping flickering little yellow light brings joy and magic into your house. The moment I light candles around our home, my girls will be next to me asking to blow out the candles. Some invisible power just pulls them towards the light.

I have to admit, fire really scares me. Fire can be dangerous, so please approach this activity (and anything having to do with fire) with the utmost caution. Give your kids constant reminders of fire rules and safety. When our girls were tiny, I would be the first to tell the girls to be careful and stay away from the candles. Now that they are bigger and aware of the danger we’re able to enjoy the beauty together, with a bit less stress.

The history of candles and candle making

Candles have come a long way since their initial use. For more than 5,000 years candles were used as a source of light. Little is known about the origin, but Egyptians were already using candles in 3.000 B.C. Papyrus and beeswax were the base for these wicked candles. Worldwide different ways were found to mold candles. Ancient Chinese candles are said to be made of wax from insects combined with seeds, Japanese candles were made of wax extracted from tree nuts. In India, candle wax was made by boiling fruit of the cinnamon tree. We are very happy to see that this tradition has been kept, as cinnamon is our favorite candle scent!

Holiday candle making safety

Before you begin making your own candles with hot wax, we’ve got some safety groundrules to cover. Make sure you are able to make your candles in a safe location and with the proper equipment. When melting wax, I use a stable pot on our kitchen stove. Make sure you also warn your children about the heat and keep them at a distance. My girls can sit around our kitchen island nearby, so that they can see and follow the process from a safe distance. When pouring the wax, the girls kept a distance good distance to maintain safety. Take your time for this creative activity. It will take you a couple of hours for melting to decorating (and cleaning for the parents).

Take it outside

If you live some place where it’s warm outside (or want to try this activity in the warmer months), consider taking this project outside! You and melt your wax over a campfire or even on the grill. You can add all kinds of fun nature decoration that you find in your yard or local area. It’s a great outdoor family activity that your kids will love!

How to get started making candles with kids

Gather your materials

DIY candle making is not only a fun and easy activity for families, it’s very gentle for your budget. You can probably find all the basic items needed for this activity in your house. When you have creative kids like mine, you probably already have a box (or 10) of craft supplies and little odds and ends.

All about wicks

Some people prefer to buy wicks, but you don’t have to. We just used the cotton twine we had in the house, which worked perfectly. Purchased wicks come in different types and sizes. The types are flat braid, square braid, metal core, and paper core. The sizes are small, medium, and large diameter. The larger or longer-burning the candle, the larger diameter the wick.

Candle molds

There are a variety of cacle molds available for purchase, but you certainly don’t ned to buy anything for this project. You can make candle molds from things you find around your kitchen, such as wax-coated fruit juice cans, milk cartons, canning jars, paper cups, and various empty food containers. Even shells or empty fruit shells make great containers. This is a great way to give some of those soon to be discared/recycled items a bit more life! We just love recycling! Check out for more recycling ideas with kids.

Candle scents

There are a variety of additives to make stylish, trendy, deliciously scented candles. I am a major fan of natural ingredients like cinnamon and dried herbs, and fruits. You can use a few drops of your favorite essential oil or even purchase specific scented oils specially made for candles and other products (soap, shampoos, etc.).

Candle making supplies:
- Leftovers of used candles or old candles
- Glass jar (or other candle mold)
- Toilet paper rolls/Pringles tubes/milk cartons/etc
- Solid cotton string, twice or wick
- Accessories: glitter, beads, dried flowers, herbs or fruits, cinnamon sticks, spices, oils
- Wooden stick or pencil
- Scissors
- A double boiler (you can create one using two pots of a different size)
Making candles in a glass jar
1. Fill the biggest pot of a double boiler with just enough water that the small pot doesn’t float around. Add water to the pot if it evaporates. Don’t let it boil down. Melt the wax in the top double boiler pot.
2. Decorate your jar from the inside before putting the wax in. My girls put glitter inside. We used a paper napkin with glitter glue to transfer it to the glass (a paintbrush would also work great). You could also decorate the inside with dried flowers or coffee beans or whatever you think is pretty. This is where your kids’ imagination gets to shine!
3. Cut a length of wick and dip it in the wax a few times to coat. Wrap the wick around the wooden stick or pencil and roll it until it’s the right length for the mold you choose.
4. When the wax is melted, use a potholder to pour it into the mould, holding it at an angle and pouring the wax down the side. Set aside some of the melted wax for later.
5. Put the wick in the exact middle of the mold. We used different colors, so the wick was already in there after the first layer.
6. Let it cool for about an hour. (If you’re impatient like us, you can put the jars outside to cool.)
7. Reheat the leftover wax. Fill in the holes in the candle around the wick wherever needed by pouring wax up to the original fill line. Repeat as necessary until filled.
We worked in layers to get a different effect. This means repeating the steps above several times. Each time we added a layer, we had to wait until the previous one is hard enough. It takes a little bit more patience, but the result is fantastic.

Making candles in a tube

The steps for making a candle in a tube (paper towel roll or toilet paper roll) or other removable mold are slightly different. Melt the wax as described above, but instead of decorating a glass jar, you’ll need to prep your tube.

Use a straight/flat surface (like the lid of a jar) and put the mould on top. We used an empty toilet paper roll and a pickle jar lid. Pour a bit of melted wax on the lid and inside the mould and let it cool so that it’s connected and won’t leak. Now, as you continue the candle making process (as described above), the wax will not leak out when you fill the mold. Once your candle is completely made to the fill line and hardened, you peel the paper tube off the wax to reveal your beautiful candle!

The fun thing about this kind of candle is that you can decorate the candle once the mold is removed. You can use special wax deco pens or just add fun decorations like sequins or stamps. Your children will love creating their own personal candle!

Keep the candle making going

There are so many different ways of making candles. So one piece of advice I can give you for the next couple of weeks: don’t throw away your candle leftovers! Ask your friends and family to keep their for you as well, so you can make your own candles from time to time. It’s a great way to connect with your children. That way, instead of buying new candles (and spending money), you can recycle your candle remains and make your house shine again!

Have you ever made your own candles?

About the author

Tine is a natural-born adventurer from Belgium. She met her husband, soulmate, and the father of her two girls while working and living in the Dominican Republic. Nine years ago they moved back to Europe and are still exploring European grounds. Her happy place is wherever her kids are, but she spices up life by discovering unknown places, planning new adventures, and going outdoors as much as possible. Having kids added a big value to her life, because seeing life through the eyes of her little ones lifted it to a completely different dimension. Their family goal is to travel the world, living a location-independent lifestyle. The family is now working on a couple of projects to make this dream happen! In the meantime, they keep on exploring and Tine keeps on writing and inspiring other families to explore just like them.

You can find more from Tine online in the following locations:
Instagram: @kidsdelmundo
RWMC posts: Tine Voeten
Website: http://www.kidsdelmundo.com
CRAFTS, HOLIDAYS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, WINTER
20 DIY Nature-Inspired Holiday Ornaments for Kids
- December 16, 2021
We love finding fun ways to incorporate nature into our home and decor. While it may be cold outside, now is a great time to get out into nature, collect some fun items, and get crafty! Today, Meghan Garriott, Illinois mom of three, is here with 20 nature-inspired holiday ornaments that you can make with your kids. These DIY ornaments are all made with items found in (and just outside) your home! Not only are they the perfect (non-breakable) addition to your tree, but they also make adorable gifts for friends, family, teachers, and neighbors.

Nature-inspired holiday ornaments

Decorating for the winter holidays can be a fun family experience. Each year we like to put on music, dance and decorate. Unfortunately, with 3 little kids, it’s hard to not have a ton of broken or damaged decor by the end of decorating, and definitely by the end of the season.

This year we are doing things a little differently. I’m pardoning all my glass bulbs and heirloom ornaments. They’re staying in their boxes, safe and sound this year. Instead, we are made all of our own nature ornaments.

Not only does that mean that we got to spend some time outside in the fresh air collecting items, but we got to spend time together making the ornaments and putting them up.

Plan your crafting day

Below, I’ve included ideas for making 20 different kinds of nature-inspired ornaments. Each ornament uses both natural materials and traditional craft supplies. Making the ornaments is super fun, but so is collecting all your nature items. Since you will be using a lot of the same materials over again, I recommend making a full day out of it and do both the collecting and ornament making in the same day. Spend the morning gathering all your materials and then go home and start making your ornaments. Your nature items will be fresher, there will be less whining about when you’ll make them, ess clean up and fewer sticky/painted fingers this way!

Gather your craft supplies

For our day of ornament making, we used only the craft supplies that we had at home. No additional trip to the store for supplies – we made do with all the scraps, ends, and bits we found in our craft closet and boxes. Every ornament we walk you through below is very easy to customize based on what you have at home and I’ll include fun variations for a lot of them.

Our non-nature material included:
- string
- twine
- glue
- construction paper
- Mod Podge
- wood beads
- oranges
- salt dough (water, salt, flour)
- paint
Some additional fun things to consider using would be:
- leftover ribbon
- leftover wrapping paper
- spare buttons
- popsicles sticks
- glitter
- sequins
- stickers
Collect your nature materials

The next thing to do is get outside and find natural materials. You likely won’t have to venture too far from home to collect most of your nature materials. In our own yard, we collected sticks and pine cones. We went to the park to collect some pieces of arborvitae/red cedar tree clippings and some pine clippings. We had some pressed flowers from over the summer that we used as well. Acorns were on our list of things to find but unfortunately, the squirrels beat us to most of them. I’ve included how we planned it used them.

My kids had a great time finding the perfect sticks and pine cones to use. To make the most of your hunting day check out this Fall Scavenger Hunt how-to.

20 DIY nature-inspired ornaments (and how to make them)

Ok, let’s get to the good part. Are you ready for 20 easy DIY tutorials on how to make the cutest nature-inspired holiday ornaments with your kids? Here we go!

Salt dough ornaments

There are so many different fun types of ornaments you can make with salt dough. Have you ever made salt dough? It’s super easy and guaranteed to be fun for the kids. I’ve included the recipe and instructions below, as well as three different types of nature-inspired ornaments you can make with salt dough.

Salt dough recipe
- 1 cup of flour
- 1/2 cup of salt
- 1/2 cup of water (may add more as needed)
Knead the dough till smooth then use a rolling pin till thin. Use cookie cutters to cut desired shapes. Using a reusable metal straw poke holes for string to go through. Bake at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 20min then flip over and cook for 10 more minutes.

1. Salt dough Christmas tree ornaments

Gather small Arborvitae/red cedar clippings. Choose the pieces that look the most like a Christmas tree. Cut them to fit your salt dough shape. Place clipping on salt dough and paint with thick layer of Mod Podge. It will likely take a few coats with about 20 min dry time between each coat.

Once the Arborvitae is securely on your dough you can paint ornaments or a star on your tree, or leave it as is. (As an added bonus, these clippings smell really lovely)

2. Salt dough pressed flower ornament

As above you organize then pressed flowers on your cut and baked dough. Carefully handle the pressed flowers. They may be delicate. Once arranged how you like paint with. Thick layer of Mod Podge. It will take a few coats.

If you don’t have any pressed flowers this year, keep this idea in mind come spring and summer! Collect them and press them in a book until you’re ready to use them next December. Add some ribbon or twine to hang and some accent beads if you have them.

3. Salt dough pine needle ornament

For this ornament you will coat the whole ornament with Mod Podge before placing the needles. While the Mod Podge is still wet use the pine needles to make designs on your ornament. Let dry then coat with one more layer of Mod Podge.

Acorn ornaments

4. Acorn silver bells ornament

Paint acorns in metallic silver. Add a black cross-hatch on the bottom of the acorn to look like the bottom of a bell. Tie a red ribbon or string around the acorn stem to hang

5. Acorn bulb lights

Paint the bottom part of multiple acorns in bright colors. Hang separately or along one long string like a strand of lights.

Ornaments made from sticks and twigs

6. Stick star ornaments

Use 5 fairly equal in length sticks. Fashion them in the shape of a star and glue edges together. Regular glue works ok, but has a longer dry time. Hot glue works best. Once dry wrap string, twine, or ribbon around the star. Wrap just the points of the star, wrap the individual twigs or wrap the whole thing like we did. There is no wrong way to decorate your star.

A fun variation would be to make tassels and attach them to the end of the points. If you don’t have string or ribbon just paint that star or cover it in glitter ( if you’re brave). You could also paint the sticks/twine or add sequins to make them more colorful.

7. Stick letter ornaments

Use sticks to make the first letter of all the names in your family. This was a good activity for my 3 year old who is learning how to spell his name. Wrap letters in ribbon, yarn or twine. Decorate with buttons, paint, or glitter.

8. Stick reindeer ornaments

Make a triangle with sticks with one point of the triangle pointing at you. This will be the reindeer’s nose. Bring the furthest side from towards you a few inches, the extra length on the sides will be the antlers. Use construction paper to make a red Rudolph nose and put some eyes on each side a few inches above the nose.

9. Stick snowflake ornaments

Using 6 sticks of equal length, glue them all together at one point to create a circle. At the end of each stick glue 2 small stick pieces to each side of each stick to form the full snowflake. Paint it white, cover it with glitter or just leave it as is.

Tree ornaments made of sticks

10. Stacked stick tree ornaments

Start with a stick about 6 inches long, place gradually shorter sticks above to form a Christmas tree. To keep the stack together you can glue to a. Popsicle stick base or tie them together with knots between each stick as seen below.

11. Wrapped twig tree ornament

For this tree we used a stick that naturally branched off into a V then glued another stick across the bottom to complete the triangle. We then use a small piece for the trunk of the tree. Wrap twine, yarn or string around the triangle to fill in the tree. Add a star at the top.

Pinecone ornaments

12. Pinecone Christmas tree ornament

Paint the scales if the pine cone green. Feeling artsy? Try using two or three different colors of green on the same cone. Add a star at the top and maybe some homemade ornaments to finish it off. You can use sequins or little pom-poms for the ornaments. Or even nature confetti (use a hole punch on some vibrant colored leaves).

13. Snow covered pinecone ornaments

Paint the edge of each scale white. For glistening snow add iridescent flake paint on top of the white or sprinkle with white, silver, or gold glitter.

14. Beaded pinecone ornaments

Use smaller pine cones for this one. Tie string to the top of the pine cone, add colored or plain wood beads to the string on top of the pine cone. If you have small beads, glue then to the pinecone scales like ornaments on a tree.

15. Disco ball pinecone

There are a few ways to completely glitter your pinecone in order to turn it into a sparkly disco ball. You can spray the whole pine cone with spray adhesive then put pinecone and glitter in ziplock bag and shake till completely covered. Another way to cover it in glitter is to paint each scale with glittered acrylic paint. Either way you do it these are a great addition to the holiday decor because they are so sparkly and reflect the lights beautifully.

Pro tip: When temperatures are low pinecones tend to close up. To open them back up just put them in the oven at 200 for about 15 minutes.

Globe ornaments

16. Filled globe nature ornaments

Start with some clear plastic globe ornaments (like these). Then, fill them up with your favorite nature finds. You can make beachy ornaments (filled with sand or shells from your favorite beach), pine forest ornaments (filled with pine needle clippings) or even wildflower ornaments (filled with dried flowers). The possibilities are endless!

Pro tip: This is also a great way to remember a particular trip or vacation. While you’re there (wherever you are), remember to collect a bunch of small items that can be placed in a globe ornament. When you get home, put all the things in the ornament and write the destination and date of the trip on the globe.

17. Pressed flower globe ornaments

Instead of putting dried flowers inside a clear ornament, you can decorate the outside of your ornament with them! Paint the entire outside of the globe ornament with Mod Podge. Gently spread pressed flowers onto wet Mod Podge and allow the first layer with the flowers to dry. Next, add a second layer on top of the flowers to seal. The Christmas tree lights shining through the flower petals is so pretty.

Dried fruit ornaments

Decorating with dried fruit is so simple and festive! To dry oranges or grapefruit, slice the fruit into thin even slices. We used a potato slicer/mandolin to make sure all slices were the same thickness. Place slices on parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Before baking punch holes for hanging. We used a reusable metal straw to punch these holes. Bake for 2-3 hours or until dry.

18. Dried orange ornaments

While the dried oranges are beautiful hung just by themselves, we also made a few with pine clippings, cinnamon sticks and beads on the string above the orange. Another variation and to add some color, use grapefruit or blood oranges.

19. Dried fruit garland

Instead of one single ornament, string oranges or grapefruit slices together using twine or string. Add beads, cranberries, acorns or popcorn between each orange for fun variations.

Suncatcher nature ornament

20. Suncatcher nature ornament

Using clear contact paper, place colorful leaves, pressed flowers, ferns, nature confetti, or pine needles in a fun arrangement. Place another layer of contact paper over the top to seal in arrangement. Cut out into shapes and poke a hole in the top to hang on tree. Check out this fun flower suncatcher for more ideas.

Get creative with your nature ornaments

Nature-inspired ornaments are so much fun to make with your kids. The good news is that there is no wrong or right way to make any of these ornaments. You or you children will likely come up with many variations as you are working on them. The beauty of working with natural materials is the are already perfectly imperfect and leave a lot of room for creativity. Thankfully, if any of these get knocked off the tree by tiny excited gift retrievers, you don’t have to worry about glass or ruining an heirloom. You can go outside and gather your supplies to make another.

How will you be using nature ornaments to decorate for the holidays this year?

About the author

Meghan is a country living, mom of 2 boys in rural central Illinois (with a baby girl on the way). She is a Physical Therapist Assistant by trade but spends most of her time outside with her family. At home, she has large flower, herb, and vegetable gardens to tend to and 3 large dogs to play with. As a family, they enjoy hiking, camping, boating, fishing, and helping her in-laws show and raise livestock. Photography became a hobby while in isolation after her oldest son’s bone marrow transplant. It has since become a passion to capture her family’s daily life. Throughout her family’s journey with rare disease and transplant, the outdoors have been a safe space for the whole family to grow, learn, and thrive.

You can find more from Meghan online in the following locations:
Instagram: @meghangarriott
RWMC posts: Meghan Garriott